Religion in Thailand

Thailand is one of the only places in the world where Buddhism is the main religion. About 94.6% of Thais are Buddhist of the Theravada tradition. The rest of the population of Thai range from Catholic to Hindu. Statues of Buddha were built in various places in Thailand, displaying its devotion to the religion.

Thai sports

Sports activities are a popular form of entertainment in Thailand and are enjoyed by all age groups.

Kraabi Krabong 
This traditional Thai martial art focuses on hand-held weapons techniques in conjunction with Thai boxing techniques. Displays can be seen at festivals and tourist venues.

Sepak Takraw 

Another sport indigenous to Thailand is Sepak Takraw, a different form of volleyball played with the feet and a light ball. There are several versions of the game with different rules. In the south of Thailand the game is played with a net. Only the feet and head are permitted to touch the ball.

Traditional Thai Music and Dance

The music of Thailand reflects its geographic position at the intersection of China and India, and reflects trade routes that have included Africa, Greece and Rome. The musical instruments used in Thai music are very diverse and reflect ancient influence greatly. The two post popular forms of traditional Thai music are luk thung and mor lam.

Instruments:












http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InftPD_ah-c

Thailand Cuisine

Exploring Thailand

Ko Samet Beach



Bangkok, Thailand





Chiang Mai, Thailand

Fourth Destination:Thailand

Thailand is located in the center of the mainland South East Asia. There are many amazing sights to explore in Thailand including the Ancient Capital of Ayutthaya and the Bridge of River Kwai. I hope to learn much about the Thailand culture.

Everyday life in Egypt

Climate: Egypt has a very hot, dry climate.  Egypt only has two seasons in the year.  The seasons are very hot summers and very mild (not so cold) winters.  Summers usually last from May to October and the average temperature is 95 degrees Fahrenheit.  This was probably the reason that the ancient Egyptians’ houses were made with open windows that didn't have any glass, so the air could flow though the windows.


Religion:The majority religion of Egypt is Islam, of which the Sunnis are the largest sect. According to official estimates, 90% of the population are Muslim and 8 to 10% are Christian. 


Government: Egypt has a Republic style government with an executive, legislative and judicial branch.  

Egyptian music and instruments

Music has no doubt shaped Egyptian culture greatly. The ancient Egyptians credited one of their gods, 

Thoth, with the invention of music, which another god,Osiris, in turn used to civilize the world. Various instruments have been founded dating back thousands of years in Egypt, many of which resemble modern Egyptian  instruments. Some popular genres of Egyptian music include Coptic, Saidi and Nubian. 

Egyptian Cuisine

      

Tabia

     Kibbeh

Fava Beans

Egyptian Sighseeing

Gulf of Aqaba





Pyramids at Giza 


Cairo, Egypt

Third Destination:Egypt

Egypt is a country in Northern Africa, extending south from the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, having developed along the Nile River. Egypt is rich with tradition and culture, much of  which captures my attention. In school, I have always been interested in learning about Ancient Egypt; however I hope to learn more of the modern Egypt that exists today. 

Everyday life of Brazilians

Religion:
In present day Brazil, there is a diversity of religion. However, in the 18th century the major religion of Brazil was Roman Catholicism. This was due to Portuguese people who were the first settlers and conquerors from Europe.  Many of Brazils population remains Roman Catholic, although other churches include Protestant, Methodist, Lutheran and Baptist. There are also small minorities of Jews, Muslims and Buddhists.

Climate:
Brazil climate is characterized by five climatic regions of Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi-arid, highland tropical and subtropical. Brazil climate varies considerably from mostly tropical North to temperate zones lying below the Tropic of Capricorn. The seasons of Brazil climate are almost the reverse of the seasons in Europe and the United States.Most of Brazil experiences rainfall between 1,000 and 1,500 millimeters annually, with most rainfall occurring in summer.


Clothing:
True traditional Brazilian attire can be seen in the countryside, where men's clothing includes shirts, jeans and dresses made from inexpensive cotton. In Rio Grande do Sul, the cowboys (gauchos) wear a distinctive clothing: baggy trousers called bombachas, ponchos, wide straw hats and boots. The cowherds  in the Northeast region wear a coat, hat and leather chaps. In Amazon, the native Amerindians wear traditional tunics and paint their faces. They use  beads and feathers to decorate their bodies. They are known for their distinctive hairstyles and body painting. However, these days, many native Americans have adopted a contemporary clothing and lifestyle. In Bahia, many women prefer traditional African clothing that includes a bright colorful shawl, a long full skirt and a turban-like head scarf. 

Brazilian Music and Festivites

Music:
Brazilians are among the most musical people on the planet due to their highly developed art form. Wherever you go, you will find people playing, singing and dancing, perhaps because of its African roots. Brazilian music includes genres such as pagode, samba, frevo, foro and lambada. All of these genres have their own respective dances as well.

Festivals:
Brazil's most celebrated holiday is the Carnival which takes place in February, prior to Lent. Thousands of people parade every year among the streets, celebrating. This holiday brings many tourists every year for the extravagant carnival and parties. The festivities last four days, with Ash Wednesday proceeding. 

Brazilian Food

Casquinha de Siri


Farofa



Bacalhoada


Coxinha

Brazilian Diversity and Family Life

Brazilian Diversity
. Brazil is a mixture of races and ethnicities, resulting in rich diversity. 
. Many original Portuguese settlers married native women, which created a new race, called 'mestizos'. 

. 'Mulattoes' are descendents of the Portuguese and African slaves.

. Slavery was abolished in 1888, creating over time a further blurring of racial lines.

. Unlike many other Latin American countries where there is a distinct Indian population, Brazilians have intermarried to the point that it sometimes seems that almost everyone has a combination of European, African and indigenous ancestry.

Brazilian Family Values

. The family is the foundation of the social structure and forms the basis of stability for most people.

. Families tend to be large (although family size has been diminishing in recent years) and the extended family is quite close.

. The individual derives a social network and assistance in times of need from the family. 

. Nepotism is considered a positive thing, since it implies that employing people one knows and trusts is of primary importance.

Brazilian Scenery

 Igaussu Falls



Maragogi beach
 

Rio de Janeiro

Second Destination: Brazil

Brazil is located in South America and is the largest country in the continent. Brazil is different from other Southern American countries because its main language is Portuguese.  I was interested in researching Brazil because of its beautiful scenery. It is home to some of the worlds most amazing beaches and  exotic tropical rain forests. The country was discovered by the Portuguese in AD 1500 and got its name from the rock-hard tree known as Pau Brazil. By researching this country, I expect to learn more about its beauty and culture.

Greek Sightseeing

   Santorini Island

    Loutraki City 

Corfu Island 

Athens

Everyday Life in Greece

Government:. Greece is ruled under a Republic government. The president is elected for five years by the Parliament, not through direct popular vote. The current president of Greece is Karolos Papoulias, who is the seventh president of the third republic. 


Climate: The climate of Greece can be divided into three different Mediterraneans. The first is a dry Mediterranean, where the weather is almost always sunny and hot. However, winters are wet and any snow that falls does not last long. The next climate is Alpine Mediterranean in which the winters are harsh with abundant snowfalls, while the summers are cool with frequent thunderstorms. The last climate is the Continental Mediterranean where the summers are cool and wet.

Religion: The ancient Greek gods Zeus, Apollo, Hera, etc., were very popular in ancient times. However, this ancient Greek religion does not have many supporters left today. The majority of Greeks are Christians and are members of the Greek Orthodox Church. There is also a percentage of Muslims, Roman Catholics and Jews,  mostly in northeastern regions of Greece.

Superstitions: The most commonly believed superstition in Greece is the Evil Eye. The Evil Eye can supposedly strike at any given moment, resulting in streaks of bad luck. To ward it off, one can wear charms, necklaces, or bracelets with an eye engraved in them. The purpose of this charm is to reflect the evil away from oneself.

Traditional Greek Festivities

Greeks are known for their extraordinary festive way of life. There are many days of celebration and excitement in this culture.

1) Many Greeks are given names of religious saints so their names are celebrated by the church on the given day of the year.  On a persons name day, his or her family and friends pay a visit and offer their best wishes as well as small gifts. 

2)In Greece, Carnival is called "Apokries"; it consists of two weeks of feats, costumes, and parties. It  begins the Sunday of Meat Fare and and ends on Clean Monday.  The most famous Carnival parade takes place in the city of Patra, where everyone dances all night and day.

Greek Culture

Greek Cuisine

1)Fresh green beans with tomato

2)Backed zucchini with mint 



3) Batter fried eggplant


4)Honeyed phyllo spirals

Tourists in Greece

Greece comes in fifteenth place in the world rating of tourist destinations, with over 15 million tourists every year. It is no surprise Greece receives so many visitors due to its famous beaches and long history. The first Greek hotel was created in 1968 and since then, tons more of accommodations are available. The most visited places in Greece include Athens(the capital), Santorini and Mykonos. All of these places are known for their diverse landscape, beauty, as well as remarkable history. All in all, millions of  tourists choose Greece as their vacation spot every year.

First destination:Greece

The first country we will learn about is Greece, located in Southern Europe. I choose to research Greece because I have always been intrigued by their culture, especially Greek mythology. Right now, I know very little about the Greek way of life, but hope to know much more by the end of my studies.

Introduction: IB Person Project 2012

     In my short 15 years of life, I'm nowhere near satisfied with my travels. Throughout the remainder of my life, I would love to be able to go abroad and familiarize myself with different parts of the world. I believe there is much more beyond the United Stated and I'm determined to find it. So far, I have visited various states in America, along with Canada and the Dominican Republic. I am  truly grateful  that I've had the opportunity to explore these lands and experience new surroundings. I believe the reason I love traveling so much is because of the aspects of culture one picks up along the way. When being in a different country, one realizes and comes to terms with the variations in culture and lifestyle the citizens live in.  My great longing for travel, made the topic choice very obvious and apparent to me. The short list of countries mentioned in this blog, are only a few of the many places I hope to roam in the future.