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The Most Beautiful waterfalls in the world

9/22/2019

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You won't need your barrels for these!


Almost everyone has asked at one point or another how a waterfall starts, and where all that water comes from. The amazing thing about waterfalls is that the thousands of gallons of rushing force start out as single droplets. 

The life of a waterfall begins in the clouds, where  precipitation falls in the form of raindrops or snowflakes that build up on the peaks of mountains. The water trickles down the mountains in rivulets that meet up in larger and larger flows until it forms a raging river that cuts a course of its own.

Powerful rivers tear away at the soft rock underneath, while the hard rock takes much longer to erode. When enough soft rock gives way, a cliff face is formed and a strong spout of water spills over the edge.

We have looked at some of the most powerful, unique, and stunning waterfalls around the world to bring you the very best of nature. Make sure to leave a comment voting on your favorite!

Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe

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Height: 108 metres (354 ft)
Width: combined width of 1,708 metres (5,604 ft)

Overview: So powerful are the Victoria Falls that their native name in the Lozi Language is Mosi-oa-Tunya—"The Smoke That Thunders", due to the constant spray that billows up above the cliff. An older name calls it “The Place of the Rainbow.

Amazing Facts:
  • World’s largest sheet of falling water
  • Twice the height of Niagara Falls
  • The spray is 400 metres (1,300 ft) high and is visible up to 48 km (30 mi) away
  • During a full moon, a “moonbow” is visible

Iguazu Falls - Brazil/Argentina

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Height: 60 and 82 m (197 and 269 ft)
Length: 2.7-kilometre-long (1.7 mi)

Overview: The Iguazu River separates Argentina and Brazil, and the Iguazu Falls split the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. 

Amazing Facts:
  • Largest waterfall system in the world 
  • Consists of 275 separate drops
  • The dam provides 40% of the power for Brazil and Argentina ​

Gullfoss Falls - Iceland

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Height: 32 metres (105 ft)
Length: 20 metres (66 ft)

Overview: one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions, Gullfoss translates to “Golden Falls”. Gullfoss is a tiered waterfall, with three successive steps, the last one spilling into a chasm.

Amazing Facts: 
  • Turns sharply to the right 1 km before the falls, then sharply to the left at the chasm.
  • Attempts to harness its power have failed several times.
  • Folklore tells the story of a woman, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who had the falls preserved by threatening to throw herself in.

Burney Falls - California

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Height: 114 feet (35 m)
Length: 250 feet (76 m)

Overview: While Burney Falls are nowhere near the tallest or even the most powerful in the world, they are certainly one of the most stunning, with water cascading in smaller rivulets throughout the width of the Falls. The water comes from underground springs that provide a constant flow rate year round, something uncommon for many Falls. Burney Falls are an example of river drainage.

Amazing Facts:
  • Named the  “Eighth Wonder of the World” by President Theodore Roosevelt.
  • Declared a national landmark in 1954

Yosemite Falls - California

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Height: 2,425 feet (739 m)
Length: N/A

Overview: Fed by the waters of Yosemite Creek, Yosemite Falls are one of the most popular attractions in Yosemite National Park. The main drop pours down a whopping 1,430-feet (440 m) cliff. A 3.5 mile hike is required to reach the falls.

Amazing Facts:
  • Comprised of three consecutive drops, but only the first and tallest is ever noticed.
  • The water dries up late summer/early fall and only a few rock climbers have ever scaled the cliff.
  • The natives to the Yosemite Valley, the Ahwahnechee people, once lived at the base of the waterfall.

Niagara Falls - New York

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Height: 57 metres (187 ft)
Length: 790 metres (2,590 ft)

Overview: Straddling the line between two countries, Niagara Falls are made up of three Falls that lie on the border of America and Canada. Three impressive sections make up the falls, with the Horseshoe Falls residing in Canada and the other two resting in the United States.

Amazing Facts:
  • Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America.
  • The green color comes from dissolved salts and pulverized rocks that demonstrate the force of Niagara River.
  • Created by the same glacier movements that made the North American Great Lakes.​

Plitvice Falls - Croatia

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Height: N/A
Length: N/A

Overview: Sixteen lakes form an interconnected network like steps created by nature, each cascading into the next in a downhill set of tiers. The lakes are broken up by natural dams that were made by bacteria, moss, or algae depositing sandstone in stacks. Water spouts through the embankments at several points and pours over algae clumps in a dazzling dance along the whole embankment.

Amazing Facts:
  • The lakes all vary in color from green to blue, and even to grey, depending on the mineral deposits within each.
  • The sandstone deposits grow by about 1 cm (0.4 in) each year.

Angel Falls - Venezuela

Picture
CC 3.0 by Luis Carillo
Height: 979 metres (3,212 ft)
Length: N/A

Overview: The highest uninterrupted fall in the world, Angel Falls gets its name from Jimmie Angel, who was the first person to fly over the falls back in 1933. The original name for the Falls was Kerepakupai Meru, meaning "waterfall of the deepest place".

Amazing Facts:
  • Jimmie Angel returned to the falls in 1937 and landed atop the cliff, but his plane’s wheel became stuck in the marsh. It took 11 days for Angel and his crew to get back down to civilization, where their story became international news and the falls were named after him.
  • Jimmie’s plane stayed stuck for 33 years until a helicopter lifted out and restored it. It now sits on display at the airport in Ciudad Bolívar.
  • Jimmie’s ashes were scattered over the falls in 1960.

Kalandula Falls - Angola, Africa

Picture
CC 1.0 by Paulo César Santos
Height: 105 meters (344 feet)
Length: 400 meters (1,300 feet)

Overview: Surprisingly little is known about Kalandula Falls, despite their being a major waterfall system in the world. The name has changed several times, and Kaladula is often spelled with a “C” instead of a “K”. The falls are located in Angola, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.

Amazing Facts: 
  • One of the most powerful falls in Africa, often said to be the second most powerful on the continent.
  • The height of the falls is regularly disputed, and an exact figure has not been established.

Ouzoud Falls - Morocco

Picture
Image by just_a_cheeseburger/flickr
Height: 110 m (330 ft)
Length: N/A

Overview: Located near the Moroccan village of Tanaghmeilt, Ouzoud Falls describes a series of drops in a horseshoe pattern. The name comes from the language Berber, meaning "the act of grinding grain", due to the many grain mills in the area.

Amazing Facts:
  • There are three tiers along the falls, with the longest drop comprising 75 m
  • You have to pass through a shaded grove of olive trees to access the bottom of the falls. ​

Jog Falls - India

Picture
CC by Kiran Sagara
Height: 253 meters (829 feet)
Length: 472 meters (1550 feet)

Overview: The second highest plunge waterfalls in India, Jog Falls are a major tourist attraction. The falls vary in flow by the season; they go from being barely noticeable trickles of water during the winter to becoming one of the most impressive falls in the world during monsoon season, and are famous for this drastic change in flow.

Amazing Facts:
  • The word Jog comes from Joga, meaning “falls”. In essence they are called Falls Falls when translated.
  • The Waterfall Database ranks Jog Falls as thirteenth in the world of waterfalls.

Helmcken Falls - British Columbia

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Height: 141 m (463 ft)
Length: N/A

Overview: Surrounded by evergreen trees, Helmcken Falls is one of the most beautiful in the world. It was largely to protect the falls that the Wells Gray Provincial Park was created in 1939. It is one of six waterfalls along the Myrtle River, and one of only three of those that can be reached by road.

Amazing Facts:
  • During the winter, the ice cone that forms at the base of the falls can grow to 50 m in height.
  • It is the fourth highest waterfall in Canada.

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The Best Beaches in Southern California

9/2/2018

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When asked where the best beach in the world might be, one might automatically think of the finest sand or the biggest swells for surfing, but beaches are like people: unique in their personalities. From street art to quaint shops, yacht races to Christmas boat parades, celebrity sightings to secluded caves, these beaches offer a look at the paradise of the Southern California coastline.


Newport

Image: Newport Beach, California by Ken Lund
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From beginners to experts, surfing was made for Newport Beach. With consistently great waves for the sport, the beach has become known as a surfing haven. For those wishing to stay a little closer to the shoreline, Newport also offers the finest bodyboarding and bodysurfing atmosphere in the world.
With the kind of perfect sand that beach goers crave, the beachfront is the ideal place for playing a game of volleyball, sitting with your toes warming in the sand, or building sand castles and running away as the waves threaten conquest.
For those less inclined to lay out a towel and rake their fingers through the sand, Newport also offers the largest recreational boat harbor on the west coast. Boat lovers flock to the harbor for fishing, sailing, rowing, and many other boat sports along the water’s edge. Make sure to get a schedule of the weekly yacht races and other boating events, and if you are visiting during the holidays, catch the Christmas Boat Parade, which has been hailed as one of the best holiday events in the country.

Huntington

Image: Huntington Beach, CA by wikimedia commons
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The waves at Huntington Beach are different than other beaches. Great swells form as water hits Catalina Island off the coast, then head toward the beachfront beyond. These swells create ideal surfing waves all year long, which has led to the nickname “Surf City.” Huntington even had the name Surf City patented to them in order to create a tourism brand that will draw in more Beach lovers from around the world. The area is known abroad as the “Surfing capital of the world,” and hosts the world surfing championships each summer.
Surf City hosts many beach related events. The National beach volleyball tour hosted by AVP competes in Huntington as one of their locations. There is also a lifeguard swimming race every July. In February, the Huntington Film Festival kicks off. March brings in throngs of car enthusiasts with classic car shows such as the Beachcruisers. In December, Huntington Harbour hosts the Cruise of Lights Boat Tour, which not only showcases ships decorated with holiday lights, but also offers boat tours to view some of the more prominent decorated houses along the water’s edge.

Santa Monica

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Perhaps the most intriguing thing about Santa Monica is that it was the ending point on Route 66. Even today, without the country-long highway bringing travelers in, there are many reasons to visit the beach city and its famous pier. It is renowned for being the first muscle beach, where body building events were held annually. The shoreline is so ideal as a beachfront that it was the beach chosen for filming the Baywatch series, and will host the surfing and beach volleyball events in the 2028 Summer Olympics. Packed with parks and playgrounds, the beach is also home to the International Chess Park, which holds a life-sized chess board and dozens of public chess tables.
A day at the beach would not be complete without a stroll along Santa Monica Pier. Built in 1909, the pier is home to another old structure: the 1922 Looff Hippodrome Carousel, a National Historic Landmark. During the summer months, free concerts and movies are put on at the pier.

Laguna

Image: Laguna Beach by Max Pixel
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Everything about Laguna speaks beauty and art. From the tenacious efforts to preserve the natural ecology, to the famous art community that stretches back more than 100 years, Laguna beach draws in crowds for much more than the sand and ocean. First attracted by the stunning coastline with its array of colorful flora and fauna, painters graced their canvases with depictions of the beach in the early 1900’s. Since then, Laguna has blossomed into a hub for the fine arts. A plethora of events are held each year for art exhibition and beach activities. Some include:
Pageant of the Masters, held each summer, takes famous portraits and recreates them with live actors posing in a precise replica of the art.
The Sawdust Arts Festival brings together all non-juried arts and crafts from local residents, including sculptures, paintings, glass blowing, ceramics, woodworking, jewelry making, mixed media, and art workshops, among others.
The Laguna Playhouse is the oldest operating theatre on the west coast.
Started in 1955, The Brooks Street Surfing Classic, is perhaps the world's longest running surf competition.
The 'Vic' Skimboarding World Championship is the longest running pro skimboarding competition.

San Clemente

Image: San Clemente Beach, CA by Don Graham
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San Clemente earn the name “The Spanish Village by the Sea,” due to its Spanish colonial style architecture. This is partly in reference to the first non-native settlers who came from Spain. It was meant to be built as as resort community in a Mediterranean style with red brick roofs and White House exteriors. One of the very first villas ever built was bought by Richard Nixon during his presidency and nicknamed the Western White House, becoming his Pacific vacation home. The city is also neighbors with San Juan Capistrano, one of the more visited Spanish Missions in California.
San Clemente is the surfing media capital of the world, with several surfing magazine centered around the city. It also consistently wins national surfing championships, which can be contributed in part to the large number of surfboard shapers and manufacturers, as well as the number of famous surfers who have taken up residence in the area.

Corona del Mar

Image: Corona del Mar by wikimedia commons
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Corona del Mar, or “crown of the sea,” is the perfect beach for the spelunking enthusiast. With caverns and rock faces that provide hours of climbing and exploration fun, the beach feels like a mashup of a California sandy shore and a jutting Oregon coastline. The landscape has everything a beach goer could wish for, from stretches of sandy shoreline , to tidepools, to cliffs and cliff top views of the ocean.
The area is an affluent one, which offers some off-the-shore house seeing opportunities, as well as a plethora of must-visit quaint shops with unique merchandise.

Carlsbad

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Carlsbad is the fifth richest city in California, and is in the top twenty wealthiest cities in the United States. Locals call the place the “Village by the Sea.” It is also known as the “Titanium Valley” due to several golf manufacturing companies being headquartered there. It is the golf manufacturing capital of the world. It is also the site of Legoland California. The city gets its name from its water quality, which is similar to some of the most prestigious spa resorts in the world. The famous Bohemian spa of Karlsbad was the inspiration for the name.
Carlsbad beach is well known for its coastal bluffs, with 220 campsites on top of the cliffs for visitors to camp in while resorting at the beach. The shoreline is ideal for beachcombing, with items of interest consistently sifted out of the sand. Scuba diving is another popular pastime along the water’s edge.

Oceanside

Image: Oceanside CA by cultivar413
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​Everything about Oceanside is big, from big competition to big history to big entertainment. With the Supergirl Pro Jam taking place each year, Oceanside boasts World's Largest Women's Surf Competition. The Oceanside Pier, built in 1888, is one of the longest wooden piers on the west coast at 1,942 feet. Every Thursday evening, the Sunset Market is held downtown, with live entertainment and local food. The architecture and grounds of Mount Ecclesia offer beauty and reflection. The 8th largest Turkey Trot in the nation takes place each year, attracting 10,000 runners from around the globe. Oceanside also hosts the toughest sporting event in existence, the Race Across America, which challenges bicyclists on a 3,000 mile cross country ride. Every May, the largest beach soccer competition, The Beach Soccer Championships are held, even offering a pro Beach Soccer Cup that is the most challenging of any in the country. In Oceanside, the “go big or go home” lifestyle ensures that visitors are always in for a once in a lifetime memory.

Pacific Beach

Image: Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA by wikimedia commons
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This is one beach city that must be experienced at night. Because of its long history as a hub for young people and college students, the strong nightlife includes promising eateries and prominent bars, as well as clothing stores and eclectic shops that cater to the night owls. The center of the nocturnal activities lies around Mission Boulevard and Garnet Avenue. “P.B.” as locals called it serves as the hottest nightlife spot in San Diego County.
What started as grain fields quickly became a budding beach town. Developers built a race track to bring in potential residents, and modern homes now sell for millions. Another set of landmarks that catch the eye of visitors is the group of streets named after precious stones. The names are given to the streets that head east and west, and prompt passersby to see how many they can name along the route.

Malibu

Image: Beach in Malibu by Public Domain Pictures
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Malibu, the home to hundreds of Hollywood celebrities and the vacation home of the rest. And it’s easy to see why. Signs throughout the city boast of its “27 Miles of Scenic Beauty.” Driving down Pacific Coast Highway only confirms what the signs say, offering perhaps the most stunning drive along any coastline in the world.
The coast is just one of the major attractions that draw in crowds. The hills just off the coastline entice bikers, hikers and climbers to scale their magnificence.
The Malibu Civic Center brings in those wishing to catch a glimpse of celebrities strolling down the streets.
Adamson House, The large home that belonged to the original owners of Malibu, has stunned visitors for over 100 years.
The Malibu Garden Club offers annual tours of some of the most breathtaking residential gardens in Malibu.
The Getty Villa is a museum dedicated to the works of Paul Getty, including his art, sculptures, antiquities, and cultural pieces.

Long Beach

Image: Long Beach, California by wikipedia
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Long Beach presents the unique feature of combining an industrial landscape with a coastline. Skyscrapers and high rises brush up against the sandy shore, allowing for one of the most relaxing lunch breaks for office workers in the area. As the third largest city in Southern California, Long Beach offers much more in the way of sightseeing than the ocean meeting the land.
Famous for its street art, many of the murals were sanctioned by Mural and Cultural Arts Program.
The city hosts a number of music festivals that include Reggae, Salsa, Jazz, Blues, Hawaiian, and Brazilian.
The Long Beach Shakespeare Company holds outdoor productions throughout the summer.
The Skinny House, a three story house built on a lot that is 10 feet by 50 feet, is the skinniest house in the United States.

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The Spiciest Recipes from around the world

8/5/2018

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Spice requires just the right concoction of savory flavors and heat. When eaten, it should thrill the mouth while leaving behind a superb surprise for the taste buds after the heat subsides. These recipes get it just right, offering a spicy challenge and a perfect blend of flavors for the palate.


Ethiopian Chicken Doro Wat
​

Picture
doro wat at Empress Taytu by stu_spivack

Often eaten with a group of loved ones, the dish is placed in the center of the table while everyone dips into it with a type of flat bread called injera.

Ingredients
  • 3- 3½- pound whole chicken cut in pieces or chicken thighs
  • 3 Tablespoons Spiced butter or cooking oil
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 2-3 medium onions sliced
  • 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • ½ Tablespoon minced ginger
  • ½ Tablespoon paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 4-6 Large soft boiled eggs, shells removed
  • 2 Tablespoons Berbere Spice
  • 1 Tablespoon dried basil (optional)
  • 1-2 Fresh lemons
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Season chicken with, salt, pepper and set aside
  2. Heat a large pot over medium heat, and then add spiced butter and onions, sauté onions, stirring frequently, until deep brown in color, about 7 -10 minutes.
  3. After the onions are caramelized, add some more oil, followed by berbere spice, garlic, and ginger.
  4. Sauté 2 to 3 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent burning.
  5. Add 2-3 cups water .Add chicken, tomato paste, basil, salt and cook for about 30 minutes.
  6. Add in shelled eggs and mix.
  7. Let cook for 10 minutes until chicken is tender.
  8. Adjust sauce thickness and seasoning with water or broth. Salt according to preference.
  9. Serve warm

Vindaloo
​

Picture
Pork Vindaloo by Jeremy Keith

Meat marinated in wine and garlic! What more do you need? Oh, yes: spice. And lots of it. Known for its kick to the taste buds, this traditional Indian dish utilizes both curry and dried red chili peppers for that extra zing on the palate. 

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • 5-10 dried red kashmiri chillies (or 3–6 hotter dried red chillies), halved, seeds removed.
  • 6 black peppercorns
  • 3 green cardamom pods
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 cm cinnamon stick
  • 13g ginger, peeled weight, roughly chopped
  • 7 large garlic cloves
  • 3 tbsp white wine vinegar, or to taste
  • 400g pork shoulder with some fat, in 2.5 cm cubes
  • 50g pork belly, cut into in 2.5 cm pieces
  • Salt, to taste
  • 4 tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • Sugar, to taste
Instructions
  1. Using a spice grinder or food processor, grind the whole spices to a fine powder.
  2. Make a paste of the ginger, garlic and vinegar. Add this to the pork along with the spices and salt, cover and marinate in fridge for at least 2 hours.
  3. Heat 4 tbsp of the oil in a non-stick saucepan. Add the onion and fry until golden brown. Add the pork and marinade and brown over moderate heat for six to seven minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 40–50 minutes, or until pork is tender. Add water if necessary.
  4. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Phaal Curry
​

Picture
Phaal Challenge! By Joey

Renowned as the hottest dish on Indian restaurant menus, Phaal often uses hotter peppers like habanero or scotch bonnet peppers instead of red chilies.

Ingredients
  • 1 1⁄2 lbs chicken, chopped into 1 inch cubes
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 8 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 ounce fresh ginger, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons ghee or 3 tablespoons oil
  • 14 ounces canned tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 12 dried or fresh chilies 
Spices
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 3 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
Instructions
  1. Cook the meat in half the ghee or oil, until just done (5 to 10 minutes). Set aside.
  2. Fry the onion, garlic and ginger until golden in remaining ghee or oil.
  3. Add water to spice mixture to make a paste.
  4. Add paste to onion mixture and cook for 10 minutes.
  5. Add the canned tomatoes, ketchup, tomato paste, and chilies, and cook for 10 minutes.
  6. Combine the meat and all ingredients in a casserole dish and cook in a pre-heated oven at 400 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes.

Suicide Chicken Wings
​

Picture
Road_trip-2526.jpg by Yuri Long

Everyone's favorite: buffalo wings enhanced with heat! Take some finger lickin' chicken and throw in some chilies, cayenne, other peppers, and a mountain of Frank's Red Hot Sauce, and you'll definitely be reaching for the cooling touch of ranch to dip these little devils in.

​Ingredients
  • 2 1⁄2 cups Frank's red hot sauce
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes (or powder)
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon white pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Tabasco sauce
  • 5 ounces barbecue sauce 
  • 5 ounces honey garlic barbecue sauce
  • 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1⁄4 cup butter
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 5 lbs chicken wings (tips removed & split in half.)
Instructions
  1. Mix all sauce ingredients in saucepan and heat to melt butter.
  2. Deep fry wings in small batches and mix with sauce.

Sichuan Hot Pot
​

Picture
Sichuan Hot Pot by Andrew and Annemarie

A Pot of simmering soup stock is set in the center of the table with slices of raw meats and vegetables placed around it, the dining party cooks the meats and vegetables in the center pot and then dips them in a sauce all while sitting around the table and enjoying the company.​

Ingredients
Aged Spicy Paste:
  • 3 tbsp sichuan spicy bean paste
  • 5 dried chilies, soaked until soft.
  • 1 tbsp chinese black bean
  • 4 ginger roots, sliced 
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • ½ cup cooking wine
  • 1 tbsp rock sugar
Dry Spices:
  • 3 star anise
  • 1 tbsp sichuan peppercorn 
  • 1 black cardamom 
  • 4 green cardamom 
  • 2 sand ginger 
  • 1 cinnamon stick 
  • 3 slices licorice 
  • 1 tbsp fennel seeds
The stock:
  • 2 lbs beef, pork, or chicken bones.
  • 3 slices ginger
  • 2 scallions
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 gallon water
​Instructions
  1. Make the base stock by combining beef or pork bones or chicken skeleton with water, ginger, scallion, bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 3 hours.
  2. To make the aged-spicy paste: chop the Sichuan Spicy Bean Paste, soaked dry chili, ginger, garlic, and black bean. Combine 4 tbsp of oil and all the chopped ingredients, cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Stir frequently. Add the rest of the dry spices and cooking wine and sugar to the paste. Continue to cook on low heat for another 30 minutes then turn off the heat.
  3. Before serving the hot pot, combine the aged-spicy paste with base stock and bring to a boil. Add additional ginger, dried chili, and salt to taste.
  4. The recipe is for half of a 12 inch special pot. Adjust the amount accordingly.

Neua Pad Prik
​

Picture
Neua Pad Prik by Wikimedia Commons

This Thai Pepper Steak is just what it sounds like: steak cooked in chili peppers and other herbs and served up on a plate with crunchy vegetables, delivering an explosion of flavor and heat.

Ingredients
  • One pound beef fillet or tenderloin,  sliced into thin strips
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp Fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp Oyster sauce (optional)
  • 2 tsp brown or palm sugar
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 2-3 Thai or jalapeño chiles, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, mix beef, garlic, salt, and pepper and set aside to marinate for at least 15 minutes.
  2. Mix together the fish sauce, oyster sauce and brown sugar in a small bowl to form a sauce. Add a little water if needed and set aside.
  3. Heat the oil over high flame in a wok or deep skillet. Add the chilies and red pepper and stir fry for about 30 seconds.
  4. Add the beef and marinade and stir fry for another 1-2 minutes, or until the beef is just cooked through.
  5. Reduce heat to low, add the sauce ingredients and toss to coat the beef. Remove from heat and serve hot with jasmine rice.

Shrimp Creole
​

Picture
Shrimp Creole Almost Complete by mrwynd

Shrimp is simmered in spicy sauce and then poured over a plate of rice. Creole takes on creative license by the one cooking it, with the heat produced by cayenne or other hot peppers.

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion
  • 1/3 cup chopped celery
  • 1/3 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • Dash hot pepper sauce
  • 1/2 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • Hot cooked rice, optional
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, saute the onion, celery and green pepper in oil until tender. Add garlic; saute 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, salt, chili powder and pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until thickened.
  2. Add shrimp; cook 4-5 minutes longer or until all shrimp turn pink. Serve with rice if desired.

Otak-Otak

Picture
P8011816 by CCFoodTravel.com

An Indonesian word meaning "brains," Otak is called such because of its color and texture that resemble brains. A mixture of ground fish and tapioca starch, the patties can include a number of hot spices and are then wrapped in a leaf for serving.

​Ingredients
  • 650 g  Spanish mackerel
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • For coconut custard:
  • 1.5 cans Coconut Cream
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • 8 kaffir lime leaves
  • 2 tsps Rice flour
Spice paste:
  • 4  candlenuts
  • 20 dried chilies
  • 3 tsp powdered Galangal
  • 3/4 tsp powdered Turmeric
  • 2 tbsp Shallot flakes
  • 1 stalk Lemon grass
  • 3 tbsp shrimp paste
  • 10 shallots
  • 1 tbsp coriander powder
Instructions
  1. Fillet fish and grind the meat finely in a food processor and transfer into a large bowl.
  2. Wash and soak candlenuts with dried chilies in warm water for about 30 mins. Drain.
  3. Trim lemon grass. Cut all the spices into pieces
  4. Grind all the ingredients for the spice paste and keep aside.
  5. Next, blend together all the ingredients for the coconut custard.
  6. Add in the spice paste and mix well.
  7. Heat wok, add oil, and add the spicy custard.
  8. Cook for 5 mins till the oil separates.
  9. Meanwhile, remove the vein of the kaffir lime leaves, and slice very finely.
  10. Add in the minced fish and the kaffir lime leaves.
  11. Grease an 8-inch cake tin and pour in the fish mixture.
  12. Smooth the top with the back of a greased spoon
  13. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 300-350 degrees F for 20-25 mins.
  14. Serve either hot or cold with plain white rice.
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Weekend Getaways in oregon

8/5/2018

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From tasting fresh butter-smothered crab in Coos Bay to attending Lincoln City's Glass Float Drop Festival to visiting the Sea lion Caves just outside of Florence, Oregon offers some of the most stunning and memorable attractions for the weekend getaway enthusiast. ​​Travel Suits You presents our favorite sites to visit.


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Sunriver

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Image: The Lakehouse Pool at Sunriver Resort, Bend, Oregon by Carissa Rogers
History

What was once a World War II simulation training area is now the site of quaint resort town of about 1,400 residents in Southern Oregon. Most of the training grounds were burned in 1944, but the Officers’ Club was kept and is now the Great Hall.

Activities
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Charming lodge-style homes are rented out to visitors. With ideal weather close to 70 degrees, year-long activities include golfing, tennis, swimming, rock climbing, biking, and hiking. In fact, the area is renowned for its gorgeous hiking trails that caress the landscape like caramel swirls over mounds of vanilla ice cream.

Lincoln City

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Image: lincolncity.jpg by wikimedia commons
History

Once upon a time there were five neighboring communities who decided they liked each other so much they were more like family than friends. With that, they promptly came together and changed their name to Lincoln City in 1965. Each sibling brought unique personality to the family. One loved whale watching; another, kite flying, and all of them, a flare for the unique.

Activities
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Known as the Kite Capital of the World, Lincoln City holds two kite festivals each year: one in June and another in October.
Perhaps one of the most interesting traditions around the world, the city hosts regular glass float drops, in which 3,000 hand crafted large, colorful glass orbs are hidden along the coastline for participants to find and keep.
Whale watching provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many visitors.

Bandon

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Image: Tony’s Crab Shack (Bandon, Oregon) by wikimedia commons
History

When Irishman George Bennet settled the area in 1873, nostalgia for home lead him to name the coastal town abandon, after his hometown growing up. From there, residents brought the best of their hometowns with them. The first was a cheese making operation that produced some of the finest dairy products to grace human lips. Then, cranberry farmers nourished their art form into a blossoming industry that supplies 95% of Oregon’s cranberries. Even the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collaborated their craft and constructed a jetty along the shoreline. Due to the rich diversity of gifts brought to the land from its people, abandon has been named one of the “Coolest Small Towns in America.”

Activities
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After stopping for freshly caught crab along the waterfront, make sure to meander across the street to the rows of novelty shops. Walk along the sands of Bandon beach and take a stroll over to the Coquille River Lighthouse. Bandon is also known for the surfing and kite surfing opportunities on the water. Many visitors visit the shoreline for some spectacular storm watching.
If you’re visiting in the fall, the cranberry festival is held during the second weekend in September and is well worth the visit.

Astoria

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Image: Astoria Oregon by wikimedia commons
History

Being First often means being the best, and we certainly think that’s true in this case. Astoria was the first settlement on the west United States to be permanently inhabited. It was also the first area west of the Rocky Mountains to receive a post office. Since its humble beginning, Astoria has been a popular place for visitors and celebrities alike, being the location of more than a dozen big name movies, including The Goonies, Free Willy, Free Willy 2, Short Circuit, Kindergarten Cop, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, and many more.
Despite its fame for beauty, Astoria astonishingly remains a small town community with close to 10,000 residents.

Activities
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The Oregon Film Museum plays all movies filmed in Oregon. The site of the museum was the jail used in the opening scene of The Goonies. The Riverfront Trolley is more than 100 years old and gives rides through town along the water. The Flavel House Museum is a Victorian Mansion from 1885 that has furniture from its original time period.

Portland

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Image: Portland Oregon Tourism by Pixabay
History

The City of Roses is named as such for its world famous rose growing climate. As the largest city in Oregon, Portland has a long and defined history. Always an important port city, Portland spent many decades in the early 1900’s with a reputation for being one of the filthiest and most dangerous cities in the world, where crime syndicates ruled. After World War II, the city’s mob life decreased considerably, and the 1960’s saw Portland become known for progressive politics instead, a culture that continues to this day. Since the 1990’s Portland has also become a tech hub, with Intel being founded there.

Activities
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Portland delivers on its motto of “Keep Portland Weird,” with unique stores to visit. Voodoo doughnut whips up human shaped doughnuts filled with blood-colored jelly, served with pretzel sticks for impaling. Powells is a three-story bookstore and the world’s largest independent bookstore. The city also offers tours of the underground tunnels that were used to shanghai innocent victims into slavery in the 19th century.

Coos Bay

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Image: Town of Coos Bay, Oregon by Pacific Legal Foundation
History

Everything about this small town is larger than life, from big history to bigger entertainment. With just under 16,000 residents, Coos Bay is the largest coastal city in all of Oregon. Before that, it was the continuous home of Native Americans for several thousand years, including the Coos tribe. The city boasts the oldest operating machine shop in the United States, built in 1888. It also claims the state’s last surviving movie house with the original organ still in use.

Activities
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The Jazz Festival takes place the last two weeks of July and brings in musicians and crowds from all over the world.
August sees the Blackberry Arts Festival, celebrating all things local, including crafts, arts, and cuisine.
Mingus Park is a botanical garden surrounding a large lake.
Canoeing and kayaking are a favorite on the waters, while four wheeling is popular on the sand dunes.

Hood River

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Image: Hood River, Oregon by Sam Beebe
History

Sitting like a gateway between two worlds, the Columbia River divides Oregon from Washington, providing a glimpse into each realm from either side of the swift waters. To the South lies the magical city of Hood River, showcasing the best of Northern Oregon landscape. What make this town a place to rival the fantasy lands of lore are the orchards, fields, trails, and rivers that surround its scenic greenery, not to mention that it’s settled at the foothills of Hood Mountain, Oregon’s tallest peak. With a winning combination of every aspect a dream destination should offer, Hood River will transport you to that otherworldly awe that so many travelers crave.

Activities
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Named the “Fifth best ski town in America,” Hood River is renowned for its ideal slopes.
The area is also known as a world class windsurfing and kiteboarding location, and classes are taught on the Columbia River.
It is home to some of the most sought after hiking, biking, and kayaking in the country.
The Harvest Festival is also one of the best in the world.

Bend

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Image: Bend, Oregon by Andy Melton
History

As the largest city in central Oregon and the fifth largest in the state, Bend is set apart as not just a stunning place to visit, but a desirable place to live. Bringing small town tourism charm together with urban living gives visitors the best of both worlds, allowing for a morning of fishing followed by the city night life without ever leaving the county line. Named by Men’s Journal as one of the 10 Best Places to Live Now, Bend’s real estate was in such high demand that the houses were at one point the most overpriced in the nation. The area is so popular that tourism is a significant industry and employment sector of Bend.

Activities
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Bend is a paradise for outdoor sports enthusiasts. While providing excellent trail and paths for hiking and mountain biking, the area is also known for a few uncommon outdoor activities, white-water rafting and paragliding being some of the highlights.​

Sisters

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Image: Sisters, Oregon by Sisters School District
History

Famous for its roe of novelty shops and specialty stores, Sisters, Oregon is the perfect retreat to find unique and handmade arts and crafts to help your house stand out above the mass produced decor at your local retail outlet. And what better place to shop for that special item than at the base of the Three Sisters Mountains, a set of stunning peaks aligned side by side that give the town its namesake.

Activities
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With the Three Sisters Mountains nearby, horse riding trails are abundant. The middle of July holds some excitement, as both the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and the Glory Daze Car Show draw in crowds of enthusiasts. For the cowboy at heart, the annual Sisters Rodeo is held the second weekend in June. And for music lovers, the Folk Festival takes place the weekend after Labor Day, celebrating the art of music for three full days.​

Crater Lake

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Image: Crater Lake, Oregon by Thomas Shahan
History

Created from a volcanic eruption that left a sunken bowl in the mountain top, this record breaking lake is world renowned for its striking deep blue water. Resting at 8,157 feet in elevation, the astounding water reaches a depth of 1,943 feet, making it the deepest lake in the United States. Because it is not disturbed by streams or rivers, the untouched waters of Crater Lake some of the clearest and purest in the world. In 1997, it broke all other records for clarity, with visibility of 175 feet in depth.

​Activities
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Crater Lake lies in Crater Lake National Park, where visitors can see natural wonders formed by volcanic Activities
The Pinnacle are a set of tall columns formed by hardened pumice and ash.
The Pumice Desert is a large landscape of ashy soil in which plants cannot grow.
The Pacific Crest Trail is an equestrian trail that stretches from Canada to Mexico and winds its way through the National Park.
Rim Drive is the most popular ride in the park, providing a driving experience around the entire rim of Crater Lake.​

Florence

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Image: Siuslaw River Bridge at Florence Oregon by wikimedia commons
History

Florence captures not only the mind  and heart, but also the visitors who stop there. So many people have flocked to the scenic waterfront town that fully one third of the residents are retirees wishing to enjoy their days in a veritable paradise. It lies between Newport and Coos Bay on U.S. Route 101. Due to its location on the coastal highway, Florence invests resources into tourism, helping to maintain the beauty and quality of the land.

Activities
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For most than 100 years, Florence has hosted the Rhododendron Festival.
Sitting along U.S. Route 101 near Florence are Sea Lion Caves, which are home to sea lions year round.
Heceta Head Lighthouse sits atop a scenic rocky coastline and offers a magnificent view of the ocean.

Winchester Bay

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Image: Lighthouse at Winchester Bay, Oregon by Andrew Smith
History

Known as the Crab Capital of the World for its consistent and excellent crab fishing, Winchester Bay holds the distinction of being a bit of a tourism phenomenon. With a population of under 500 residents, the area is more of an outpost than a town. Despite this, tourism has steadily increased as visitors discovered the rich activities offered.

Activities
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Crabbing is a major highlight when visiting the bay. The area is also well known for the sand dunes that have created a whole market for off-roading. Another attraction worth seeing is the Umpqua River Lighthouse.

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