A typical menu on Tet holiday in Vietnam

The dishes on Tet holiday carry charateristic traditional features of Vietnam cuisine. Going through a number of periods of history. Over time, these dishes have increasingly become tasty while maintaining their own identity. This article will help you achieve more understanding of the culture of Tet cuisine by introducing you to typical meals on Tet holiday, which are essential factors of almost all the Vietnamese families in this occasion.

Bánh chưng
This is one of traditional foods in Vietnam. "Banh chung" has come into existence for a long time and is said to originate from a Vietnamese legend under the dynasty of the 16th Hung King. Legend has it that in order to express his gratitude to his ancestor, the Sky and the Earth, Lang Lieu prince created banh chung as the symbol of earth surface. This is also the only kind of cake in long existence in Vietnam culinary culture. The ingredients of this cake comprise glutinous rice, pork and mung beans. Glutinous rice as the main ingredient of "banh chung" is the expression of the pride of Vietnamese rice farming and the emphasis on the importance of nature, especially rice. In addition, banh chung is wrapped by lá dong so that it is in square shape and boiled for hours.

Giò lụa or chả lụa (Vietnamese pork roll)
"Giò lụa" is considered one of the luxurious meals of Vietnamese people. "Giò lụa" is made of well-kneaded lean meat combined with fish sauce and then it is wrapped in green banana leaves before brought to the boil. "Giò lụa" owns the flavour of ground meat. This dish also has many variants like "chả bì", "chả bò", "chả chiên", "chả quế", etc.

Xôi (glutinous rice)
"Xôi" is made from glutinous rice and one of the foods bringing the national character and a typical representatives of rice cultivation society. This is a popular dish with main constituent of rice, beans or peanut. "Xôi" becomes delicious when rice is cooked to a turn so that it keeps scented flavour. In Vietnam, there are various kinds of xôi such as "xôi gấc", "xôi bắp", "xối đậu đen", "xôi đậu phộng", "xôi vò", "xôi xéo", etc. In the thought of Vietnamese people, red colour is the symbol of luck and prosperity. Vietnamese people usually cook "xôi gấc" on Tet holiday with a view to attaining more lucks in the new year. People will mix Gac fruit and glutinous rice together aimed at turning white rice into red colour.

Nem rán or chả giò (fried sausage)
Crispy "nem ran" accompanied by nuoc cham created by lemon juice or vinegar, water, sugar, garlic and chili pepper is incresingly prefered by foreign tourists. Ingredients of this food include ground pork, chicken or duck egg, some fruits and vegetables like kohlrabi or carrot, "miến", "mộc nhĩ"; all of them are mixed with spice and then rolled up in a sheet of rice paper; the last step is that these rolls are deep fried so that they turn crispy and golden brown.

Dưa Hành
“Thịt mỡ, dưa hành, câu đối đỏ.
Cây nêu, tràng pháo, bánh chưng xanh”
(Rich meats, Pickled onions, red couplets.
Nêu tree, firecracker, green bánh chưng)
This is a popular Vietnamese folk song on the occasion of Tet. "Dua hanh" contains three flavor including sour, salty and spicy. The recipe for dua hanh becomes very familiar to every Vietnamese family. First of all, it is necessary to collect old and hard onions; then keep their roots and cut their tails. Next, onions are soaked into the lye water containing borax for two days two nights. After that, the onions are taken from the box of water; their roots will be cut so that their size is only five centimeter. The next step is putting the onions into a large glazed earthenware jar; sprinkling the dish with salt and adding a layer of split sugar cane. After two weeks, you can move the onions from the jar to a glass container which is then poured vinegar with sugar into.

Thịt đông
"Thịt đông" is a special food in the North Vietnam in cold weather. This dish is made of pork side or sometimes chicken and a piece of pork skin; all of which are then well-simmered. After this stage, you put the pot of pork outside so that it will take all the dew and wind from the cold weather. As a result, you will have a pot of "thịt đông" in the next early morning. On the surface is a white layer of oily film. In addition, traditionally, in the North Vietnam, "thịt đông" is served with the dish of "dưa hành".

How much does it cost to study in USA?

For some international students, the expense of studying abroad is a major concern. In case if you're agonized over how you can pay for those enormous educational costs, airfares and insurance, and in addition everyday costs, this article has all the answers.
Both the educational cost expenses to study abroad in the United States and living expenses change impressively between various colleges/universities, trainings and cities. Educational cost is between $6,000 and $60,000 every year. Costs for living and food are ordinarily amongst $5,000 and $11,000 dollars every year. Additionally you require cash for voyaging and personal expenses along with the educational cost.

 It might be difficult to deal with the expenses, however there are various supportive networks set up for study abroad students to provide financial help. Large number of students get financing for education in the USA through stipends and loans. The loan taken by student must be paid back with the respective interest (the interest rates for study abroad students are generally low ). Stipends are endowments of cash which don't should be paid back.

Numerous students may be qualified for grants, which must be earned, either through scholastic merit, athletic ability, or social performance. Be careful of fake grant agencies, which regularly charge an expense in return for the information provided by them. There is additionally monetary aid accessible for international students to study in the United States for education at a graduate level.
We suggest students to do their own calculation of the considerable number of expenses to ensure that you have enough money planned in your financial plan before you touch base in the United States, and start inquiring about sources of monetary guide well ahead of time.

Accommodation for students in the United States

There are three types of accommodation alternatives for students in the United States:

1. On-campus: You can stay at the college hostel room or student flat. This type of accommodation can be costly, but you become acquainted with number of students quickly. On-campus accommodation may be useful for your first semester at the college to be a part of college life and interact with different students. Food facility may be incorporated into your on-campus housing.
2. Off-campus accommodation: You can rent a private/shared room outside of campus at a lower cost than staying on-campus. The Office at the university can help you with data about private apartment and where to search for them. It can likewise be helpful for temporary accommodation in the initial couple of weeks after arriving.
3. Have family accommodation: This type of accommodation option is just offered by a couple of colleges. It is costlier contrasted with living off-campus, however gives you the additional backing of a family and instills you in American culture rapidly.

Facts about international education costs

Here are eight key things to keep in mind when you're planning for your study abroad plans:

1. Expenses can increase while you study, so check with your college whether the fees in their offer letter are fixed or not…
2. Trade rates can likewise change and could influence your capacity to pay for the fees and accommodation. In the event that you think the rate is going to rise, transfer more cash over sooner.
3. You can't depend on part time work while you study to cover your fees or significant expenses – regardless of where you are studying or what your employment is. It won't be considered in your student visa application.
4. Living in urban ranges (in or almost a major city) by and large costs significantly more than living in a small town.
5. Not all countries offer international students the same concession cards as residential students. In the event that you do have access to student rebate card, use it!

4 general rules to remember to minimize costs:

1. It can be less costly to live in a rustic or rural range in the US.
2. Likewise, living in the South or Midwest is less costly than living on the West Coast or in the Northeast.
3. Living on-campus is normally less costly - eat in the dining hall or self-cook in your lobby of home and go to on-campus for sport occasions or other social occasions (which are regularly free!) rather than off-campus occasions.
4. Continuously inquire as to whether there is a student rebate at off-campus events and stores.

How To Get Ready For Halloween In The Last Minute?

Halloween is just around the corner and your excitement must be at the peak. Make sure that you don’t go with the tried and tested look for the upcoming event. Use your innovation as well as creativity and try something different this time. However, you need not go over the board in order to do the same. Your outfit, makeup as well as the accessories should speak for your style and serve the purpose of the event. The simple yet unique look is the most ‘in’ thing these days. There are times when you are not ready for the party in advance, still you want to look anything but the best. Being a girl, it is very difficult to get ready on the last minute. So, this article summarizes the tips that can help you be the show stopper of the next Halloween without doing much of brainstorming.
The quick tips are indexed below.

1. Black dress 

Black is the color of this day and the best option for you to choose. A Little Black dress is something that almost every girl has in her closet. Use it if you have not done any shopping for the event. However, there are cat themed dresses available in the market. The dress with the face of a cat printed on the front will look exceptionally good. Where most of the girls will be dressed like vampires and zombies, you can have this look of a wild cat lady. This will definitely get you an edge over all others. If there is still sometime left for the event to arrive then you can order one for yourself. You can easily find small cat dress at a number of online sites.

2.Footwear

With the dress, you need to choose matching footwear. The feline look provides you enough space to experiment and explore. Even though boots are the best choice, you can try the high heel sandals or even ballets with heels. In case, you are not wearing boots, then, make sure that you wear knee high socks. You can have the color combination of black and blood red.

3.Hairstyle  

Out of the numerous hairstyle choose the one that is the weirdest and the scariest. You can go for colored hair extensions and the color not to mention should be red. If you are too busy to style your hair, then, You can pump them and leave them open. In order to add more volume to them, you can use the headband featuring kitty ears on them. This will completely match with your cat dress. You can even use beads and sparkles, but make sure you use only natural colors. It will otherwise damage the hair.

4.Makeup

You need to take care of the makeup you do. It has got to be loud but not over done. Wash your face with cold water and apply a thick layer of lotion so that, the chemicals are not in direct touch of your skin. You may use the liquid highlighter for a bit of glow. Eye makeup is the most important aspect. Use dark shades of eye shadow. Sparkles can give you an apt party flair. Apply false eyelashes as it will give you a wild look. It is strictly recommended that the color of the lipstick should be dark red, no other color will go with your look. Bold lips and eyes will infuse style into your wildcat look. You can even use lenses of different color such as gray, green etc. However, it is alright, if you don’t have one. Make sure you use only chemically approved beauty products.

5.Accessories

You are almost ready for Halloween, but if you still feel that something is missing then you can wear a pair of black gloves. There are wallets and pouches available in the market that are in the shape of rats. Or else you can go with any handbag crafted in fur that you have in your collection. You can use big finger rings and heavy necklaces. Any design will do, you need not match it with the dress.
Having done this much, you are absolutely ready to scare away all the vampires and zombies at the Halloween party. This look will surely help you win the  heart of feline admirers.

Top 7 Benefits of Using Video Recording Software

It is a proven fact that visual aids work more with its obvious display facility and vividness. This is one of the main impetuses of using video recording software, however, now it is being used or different utility purposes where its display facility is utilised for creating better impact or for explaining something specific and significant in a workflow. As a result, screen capture and screenshots are now being used at random for creating improved and global quality presentation and communication under different facets.


Real life presentation: that perfectly explains a direction

All modern computers are equipped to capture and read screen capture snapshots. It is basically the photo of the screen. For a presentation when something is described in a video or a document by highlighting a specific portion, a video screen shot can perfectly snap it for ready reference of the viewer’s ready reference. Are you demonstrating an action? Screenshot captured by video recording software can make your demo more lively and comprehensive.

It enhances the usability of screen capture

Advanced screen capture software like Movavi allows its users to annotate and share the screenshot as well as it keeps the screenshots ready for further use in your computer’s memory, thus increases the usability of the snaps. This kind of advanced software comes with editing tools and that empowers users to make the most visually impacting piece of communication. One of the best advantages of this software is its range of versatility that users can modify its functionality according to the requirement.

Aid for creating a visual plan

Use of Video Recording Software like Movavi helps in implementing a visual plan say for making a manual. It can be used for making a storyboard. Users can insert annotating images and may generate shareable links for making the snapshots into a complete visual plan. In fact, reference guides can wonderfully be created by using a series of snapshots with an excellent visual demonstration.

It saves time

Visual effect not only can save time, it ignites a better level of comprehensiveness, which is done by a quality Video Recording Software. It is rightly said that a picture is worth a hundred words of audio explanation. The screen snaps fulfil that purpose very amicably. It is globally observed that a screen capture along with concise text provides the perfect canvas to illustrate even a most difficult point clearly.

Screenshots can convey feedback better

Instead of watching a complete video, this software helps in making special focus on the specific parts. For example, if some part of a video needs editing. If the user captures these parts with the screenshot, the instruction/suggestion gets vividly clear and no scope of confusion prevails in the communication process. This is a wonderful way where offshore instruction can be conveyed most professionally and efficiently.
This is one of the reasons screen shot capturing by using video recording software is now being used in generating clear feedback on mockups and design projects. Users can insert in their feedback by capturing problems by screenshots, annotate as well as share them in such a user-friendly way that gets easily stored and retrieved for further and future reference.

 Create a visual database 

The Movavi screen capture history on a computer should be easily accessible to access a designated visual database. Users can easily find old restatements and feedback by browsing through the history.  The user can get the access to use the already captured things he needs to reuse.

Export a target screencast to any chosen format

Some best quality video Screen Capture software offers the facility of trimming a video clip according to personal discretion at the start or at the end to retain only the decent footage. For example, Movavi Screen Capture software can help its users to get this trimming facility. Furthermore, the software allows its users to save the video in different formats like MP4, AVI, MOV, and many others. In addition to these facilities, video Screen Capture software can compress screencasts, which allows it users to choose the target file size before the recording is finally saved. In addition to these features, the software optimises monitor recording for mobile devices as well as for online sharing.

With the suitable screen capture software, users can streamline and facilitate project management and related communication. It provides clear output for generating crisp feedback, shares briefly, and can store snapshot history. Choosing the video recording software can make the completing wide variety of tasks easier, concise, and professionally comprehending.

Top 5 Wild Islands Nearby Ho Chi Minh City at Weekend

1. Phuoc Hai Beach, Vung Tau

Vung Tau is always known as the beach city with a lot of outstanding beaches, you will have more choice for the amazing beach in Vung Tau. This is Phuoc Hai beach which belongs to Dat Da District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. The beach still keeps the untouched natural and the vast space of white sand and beautiful magic rock.

Moving from 16km from Vung Tau City, you'll get Phuoc Hai Beach. The beach water is so clean and blue which make you fall in love with the beach in the first time visiting there. It's a really wonderful time when standing on the beach and watching local people fishes outside. This is simple and relaxing feeling for tourists. Besides that, Phuoc Hai is the oldest fishing village in Vung Tau City.

2. Thach An Island, Can Tho

Thach An island is an island village of Can Gio District which located far 50km from Ho Chi Minh City to the east and 8km from Can Gio province. Although Thach An still belongs to Ho Chi Minh City. it's seemed as "a little girl" standing next to a noise flow of the city. Thach An has more than 50.000 households mainly living by fishing and salt making.

Thach An island village is not tourism place, so it still keeps the wild and peaceful natural beauty, When visiting there, tourists will soak up the stunning natural beauty and learn more about the simple and interesting life of local people. Therefore, the place attracts many backpackers though it has not much tourism activities for travellers.
Besides the beauty of nature, fresh seafood is the impressive thing with tourists travelling there. The seafood is quite cheaper than other islands but it is so delicious and fresh. If you are wanting to find an ideal destination for a relaxing trip.

3. Tan Thanh Beach, Tien Giang

Far 50km from My Tho to the east, Tan Thanh beach suited on Go Cong Dong District, Although Tan Thanh beach is not the ideal beach for swimming because of black sand and slurry, it has a lot of awesome things in itself for a short vacation.

Hence, if you want to visit the beach for swimming, it is a really bad choice due to the black beach but Tan Thanh beach is one of the most beautiful black  beaches in Vietnam. In fact that putting your foot on the black sand, you'll get the smooth feeling which you will never forget. Moreover, the black sand mixing with the silver wave will create a lacquer painting like a masterpiece.
Almost tourists visiting the beach said that the beauty of Tan Thanh beach like a gift from paradise which you can not find out anywhere. Additionally, the special beach welcomes a lot of tourists visit to enjoy the beauty and take memorable pictures,

4. Long Son Island, Vung Tau

Located 100km from Ho Chi Minh City, Long Son beach which belongs to Vung Tau City is recently in the interesting eco-tourism place.

Long Son island is still a strange name with some tourists, but the destination is famous for the high-quality outer area. Furthermore, Long Son beach has a floating village on the river, therefore, you'll get a chance to enjoy refresh and high-quality seafood as well as soak up natural beauty visiting there,
The island attracts tourists by natural beauty and friendly local people who live by fishing, salt-making, and oyster farming.

5. Thieng Lieng Island, Can Gio

Thieng Lieng Island also belongs to Ho Chi Minh City, but it brings peaceful and quiet beauty in itself. Many people travel to Thieng Lieng island with only one purpose that wants to explore and learn more about simple and difficult life a little but in a remote area of Ho Chi Minh City. Almost landscapes of Thieng Lieng island are river banks and canals, accompained by forest-covered trees on the island. In addition, the island is not much big, so the mainly means in the island are bicycle and walking. In fact, Thieng Lieng island has motorbikes but not much. It's a reason why the atmosphere of this island is clean and not pollutant like the urban area.

Besides that, tourists will get the chance to learn more about how to make salt as well as seeing vast salt fields. However, the salt making time is summer season, so tourists should choose the best time to visit the place, Other ways, Thieng Lieng island is one of the village keeping the traditional way to make salt.

Actually, Ho Chi Minh City is one of "must-see" place in Vietnam where you'll get new and outstanding experiences when visiting. Furthermore, if you want to travel to all places above, Ho Chi Minh City Tour will cover them for you.

7 Popular Essay Topics Students Can't Do Without

Writing an essay is a daunting task for the students and it is equally or perhaps even more of a challenge for the teachers as they need to evaluate a creative topic which will provoke thoughts among the students and then finally they need to edit and grade them too. Phew! Sounds like a lot of work and as a student you must know exactly what a teacher looks for while evaluating the essay paper, you have submitted.
Essay writing is not an easy task as it more often than not demands the students to comprehend the topic analyze the available information and also think at the same time. College essay topics are designed in a way so that they can test a student’s writing skill and also reveals the perspective of an individual student. So before you start writing your college essay, you should be aware of how to choose your topic
Our Phd tutors with years of essay writing help experience have made a list of popular essay topics for college student, see below:.
Should Technology alter the Traditional Educational Format?
The advent of technology along with the computer software has transformed the scope of teaching and learning at the same time. This kind of essay topics generally evaluates the students’ knowledge about the rise of online education and online teaching and also at the same time determines the perspective and point-of-view a student holds regarding this change. This kind of essay topics normally test whether or not a particular student is open to new ideas like online education or if he/she is open to changes and can think out of the box.
Should we carry on with Capital Punishment?
The legal idea of death penalty has triggered various arguments throughout the globe and this kind of essay topics normally tests the students’ idea about the scenario and also evaluates the stand-point on the overall justice system of the country. It is essential to understand to what extent and for what crimes a person is penalized with capital punishment and on the basis of that a student needs to take a stand-point and argue on it logically.
Encouraging the Practice of Adopting Pets from the  Animal Shelter
It is also a vastly debated topic as to whether or not the governments across the States should encourage citizens to adopt pets from the animal shelter rather than running after a better breed at the expensive pet shops. This kind of essay topic tests a student’s ability look at the broader perspective and checks whether the person is empathetic towards the situation and deals the matter with care and compassion.
Should Euthanasia be legalized?
In some countries it is! However, irrespective of the legal and administrative issues, there are other perspectives which can be evaluated. This kind of essay topics not only evaluates the writing skill of a particular student but also at the same time it determines whether or not a particular student is capable of incorporating other’s perspective into the context. The morale judgment of a student should be based on logic and empathy and that is what the teachers try to determine.
Views on Gender Wage Gap
It is actually a burning topic of debate in the both political and business world and considering the fact that the students will soon enter the corporate environment, this kind of essay topics tests the understanding of the student and their in-depth analytical and reasoning skill. There is obviously no right or wrong answers to this issue and also at the same time the things are not as simple as it appears. The wage gap issue is something which the past few governments have tried to address and a student’s perspective on those actions is a crucial evaluating factor.
Should the practice of grading of the teachers, by the students, be encouraged at school?
Essay topics need not be necessarily always centered on high-end political or social causes but also it tries to assess a student’s ability to analyze and judge a situation in a known environment or a situation where they can throw some lights from their practical experiences.
Can the renewable energy sources sustain our current lifestyle and demand?
Again there is no direct yes or no answer to this issue but this kind of essay topics normally tests the ability of the student to do his or her own research about the alternate energy sources and outline an argument which essentially counters or aligns with the central theme of the essay.
Considering the above mentioned topics, is not always easy to structure an essay for student who lacks the experience in approaching a particular argument or take a stand for that matter. Learn How to write a good essay and than go ahead without any fear.
You can be a straight “A” student with excellent vocabulary but writing an essay requires something extra. There online essay writing helps available who guide and assist students to write a fantastic piece. HelpWithAssignment.com is one such establishment having an envious collection of English essay writers and essay writing experts who are associated with esteemed universities in the western world.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Organizations can be any group or institute or community which works to fulfill the common goal set by the top leaders of the organization. Organizations can be classified into various types based on the kind of work they and the stakeholders involved in business. The various types of organizations are:
Private organizations: These organizations are run by private individuals’ i.e. regular citizens of a country whose sole motive is to gain maximum profits.
Public organizations: These organizations work for the welfare of the public like education, construction of roads, military, etc. Thus, the main motive of public organizations is to perform governmental services.
Government Organizations:  These are organizations which are run by the government. The main motive of these organizations is to look after the welfare of the people. Profit making is generally low or negative in this sector, whereas most of the investment is for raising the standard of living and providing better health facilities to the general masses.
Non-governmental Organizations: These organizations are not formed by the government and nor are profit making organizations. These organizations are run by volunteers mostly for social purpose to help the poor and needy and the funds are raised through charity or by voluntary participation of other organizations or government.
Partnership: When two or more people come together to share the profit and losses together, the organization can be termed as partnership. The main motive of any partnership is to amplify their profit margin.
Cooperatives: Cooperatives are companies in which many people come together to have social, economic, and cultural benefits. The main motive of co-operatives is not always profit making. In co-operatives even customers, employees or residents can be part of the organization.
Leadership
For better understanding I am taking example of Harrods. Harrods is the one of the most popular retail departmental store. It is situated in London on the Brampton Road. There has been a great role that is played by leadership in an organization. There are majorly two types of leadership styles that are followed by the leaders:

• Autocratic leadership
• Democratic leadership

Autocratic Ruler is the one who makes his decisions himself and guide the team by giving instructions on what has to be done. On the other hand, a democratic leader takes his entire team into making the decisions. He asks the ideas, views, suggestions and the areas that the entire team can input his efforts in. Based on the situations and the conditions, both the leadership’s styles have been successful. Both styles have their place, depending on circumstances. For example there may be situations, where there is involvement of quick decision making or taking of instant actions, there the autocratic style of leadership is the correct application. On the other hand in the situations where there is requirement of team work and new, innovative and creative ideas, there democratic leadership is quite essential. In Harrods’ leadership objective is for creating a healthy and safe working culture which is created with the help of democratic leadership. The company focuses on the ideas, views, and suggestions given by all its employees. It applies them accordingly. These way employees feel that they are part of company decision making. Trust and respect are the major elements and parts of Harrods’ program for employee engagement.
Harrods’ Motto “Things for All People, Everywhere”
HRM could be defined as a function in an organization for enhancing the performance, efficiency, productivity and effectiveness of all employees. This department works as a strategic partner with the business functions and decision making of the company.  It does the efficient management of the employees so that the goals and objectives of the employees are mapped and aligned with that of the company. The basic components of an organization are people, place and purpose. HR helps in framing the various policies, systems, processes and guidelines that are designed suiting the requirements of the organization. The significance of Human Resource Management was realized in the 1980.
HR planning helps in designing the effective processes, policies, functions and the procedures for the company. It helps in the identification of the present and future needs of the company by making a forecast on the basis of past performance.

Impact of Polices on the European Union on Harrods

European Union plays an important role in influencing the business in most of the companies in UK including Sainsbury. Some of the policies are discussed below.
Freedom of movement of goods and services: The movement of goods and service was made free according to the EU since 1957 when the Treaty of Rome was signed. Reducing the barriers has resulted in increase of market and provides Sainsbury a larger market to target and also reduces the price which helps in increasing the purchasing power of consumer.
Freedom of movement of capital and labor: Another important benefit provided by EU is the freedom of movement of capital and labor. Thus, labor can move freely where job opportunities are more. Hence Sainsbury can offer new job opportunities to wider range of people and will have more diversified workforce to operate with which is important when the company operates in different parts of the world. Freedom of movement of capital also helps Sainsbury to invest wherever they wish to and open new stores wherever they like without any discrimination.
Sovereignty implications of Single Market: Another important policy is the existence of Single Market among EU member States. Thus, it provide Sainsbury to come out of Oligopoly type of market structure that prevails in UK retail sector and gives them wide market to operate. Single market eliminates the way differences exist in the functioning of market in different countries. It helps in standardizing the quality of product, strengthens competition, protect the consumer, etc.

10 things to do in Rome that are off the tourist map

If you’ve visited Rome before, you’ve probably seen all the regular tourist attractions.
Imagined rampaging tigers chasing gladiators at the Colosseum? Check. Thrown a few euro into the Trevi Fountain, marvelled at the amount of gold crammed into St Peter­’s Basilica and stared up in awe at the Pantheon’s perfect dome? Check, check and check again.
When I decided to live in Rome it was my fifth time in the glorious Italian capital. I had more than ticked off the tourist sites and set about unearthing what The Eternal City had to offer off the tourist map.
From a 2000-year-old pyramid and a secret keyhole boasting a perfect view, to a strange neighborhood built as a monument to Mussolini and his Fascist party, Rome boasts a huge array of things to do and see that you probably haven’t seen or heard of before.
Here are 10 of the best:

1. See a 2000-year-old pyramid

In a suburb called Piramide (where else), you’ll find The Pyramid of Cestius – a relic of the Egyptomania which gripped Rome in the wake of the conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. Original Egyptian artefacts and copies cropped up all over the city, but this structure is the only surviving example of Roman pyramids. The pyramid was most likely built around 12 BC and is the final resting place of the religious leader Gaius Cestius. The tomb is only open two days a month via a guided tour.

2. Visit cats at the scene of Julius Caesar’s murder

Largo di Torre Argentina might be famous for being the spot where dictator Julius Caesar was betrayed and killed, but the 150 cats which shelter amongst Rome’s oldest temples also make it pretty special. After this archaeological wonder was excavated as part of Mussolini's rebuilding efforts in 1929, Rome's feral cats moved in and the “gattare” (or cat ladies) began caring for them. The site is now home to the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary where you can enter and help by donating your time, money and cuddles. Most of the cats here have special needs – many are blind, missing legs and come from abusive homes.

3. Have coffee with kitties at a vegan cat cafe

Keeping with the theme of cats, not far from the pyramid in Ostiense you’ll find Romeow Cat Bistro, a cute little café where you can eat, drink and make some feline friends. If you like your vegan chocolate milkshake with a kitty cat by your side amid sleek, contemporary surroundings, put this on your list.

4. Explore Mussolini’s odd EUR district

Quite possibly Rome’s strangest suburb, EUR is renowned for its bold Fascist-style architecture. EUR stands for Esposizione Universale Roma, a world fair that Mussolini and his administration planned for 1942 to celebrate 20 years of Fascist rule in Italy. The exposition, of course, never happened due to the outbreak of World War II. This new suburb doesn’t have the vibe of Rome at all and the atmosphere feels a little like a failed project, however you can still find plenty of bars, shops and offices in the area.

5. Discover amazing street art

Rome has an incredible street art scene and there are several districts where you can find colorful artworks including Ostiense. One of the best is the abandoned aeronautical barracks at Porto Fluviale, known as Fronte del Porto. Painted by famous Italian street artist BLU, the artwork isn’t just meant to be pretty - it also draws attention to social and political issues including pollution, war and housing problems.

6. Hang out with the locals in chilled out Monti

If you want to live like the locals do, grab a pizza, a big bottle of beer from any corner shop and hang out at Piazza Madonna dei Monti in the Monti district. This was one of my favorite places to hang out on a summer’s night and make new friends. An added bonus is the nearby Gelateria dell’Angeletto, one of the very best in Rome serving up dairy free gelato so delicious you could cry.

7. Grab a drink at Pigneto

Once a working class suburb that many feared to frequent after dark, Pigneto has shrugged off its bad reputation and is now the city's latest alternative hot spot, home to some of the hippest bars, restaurants, music venues and coolest folk in Rome. You can find plenty of great and cheap eats here including cocktails for 3 euro and aperitivo -  a glorious couple of hours generally between 7pm and 9pm when you can relax after work over a glass of Campari (or wine) and some snacks from around 8 euro upwards.

8. Hit the beach at Ostia

When you think of Rome you don’t really think of beaches. But Rome’s beach, Ostia, is only 45 minutes away on the train and a welcome reprieve from the searing heat of Rome in the summer. The dark sand beaches are split into private and public areas, and for about 10 euro you can get a chair, umbrella and towel on the private beaches. If you don’t mind crowds, you can find yourself a spot in the free public areas. There are also plenty of clubs on the main sea strip to party at.

9. Peep through a keyhole for an incredible view

Get an incredible view of Rome through the Knights of Malta Keyhole on Aventine Hill – one of Rome’s best kept secrets. A vista of the city is perfectly contained in the keyhole of a non-descript looking door on Aventine Hill, perched just above Circo Massimo, neatly placing the dome of St Peter's right in the center. The doorway leads to the Priory of the Knights of Malta, the legendary crusader knights and religious order.

10. Walk through a bone cemetery

Head to the Capuchin Crypt (Church of Santa Maria della Concezione) to see the bones of some 4,000 dead Capuchin monks and decayed skeletons arranged in beautiful and decorative designs. Located on the Via Veneto near Piazza Barberini, the bones are arranged throughout six chapels/crypts in sculptures, lamps and mosaic-like displays of geometric shapes, flowers and religious symbols.

10 weird dining experiences around the world

Sometimes, a classic rump steak accompanied by a glass of red in a pleasant restaurant can be kind of … boring.
But the good news is if you’re looking to amp up your dining experiences there are plenty of weird and wonderful restaurants you can try out around the world.
From curries served in miniature toilets, gourmet cuisine dished up under the ocean to a bizarre “medical prison” where guests are yelled at by nurses to finish their food, these restaurants don’t just offer a meal, but a complete sensory experience.
From the quirky to the downright weird, here are 10 one-of-a-kind dining experiences from around the globe.

A side dish of robots and lasers

If you like your dinner with a side of giant rampaging robots and lasers, check out the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo. In the Shinjuku district, this nightly cabaret show features giant neon robots, flashing lights, techno music and taiko drums. The food isn’t great, but when you’re being entertained by all kinds of robots including sharks, dinosaurs, action heroes and pandas surrounded by bikinied go-go dancers, does it really matter?

Eat straight from the toilet bowl

Ever wondered what it's like to eat from a toilet bowl? Me neither. But in the city of Taipei in Taiwan you can find out at a toilet-themed eatery called Modern Toilet. Meals are served in small replicas of loos, and diners sit on toilets (thankfully not connected to plumbing) while they eat. Dishes like curries, stir fries and hotpots are served in miniature potties, while drinks are served in glasses shaped like urinals. The signature dessert is, unsurprisingly, a big pile of soft serve chocolate ice cream. The idea for this bizarre restaurant came about while one of the owners was sitting - where else - but on the toilet.

Dine with the fishes

Dine 16 feet below the sea at the incredible Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, located on Rangali Island in the Maldives. The all-glass restaurant is encased in a transparent acrylic roof, offering 180-degree panoramic views of sea creatures swimming past in crystal clear waters. The restaurant serves contemporary European cuisine in a six-course set dinner menu featuring fresh seafood, veal, beef rib eye and more.

Dinner in the sky

If you like your dinner with perhaps a side of vertigo, then check out Dinner in the Sky, an “open air” restaurant suspended by a crane above Parc Cinquantenaire in Brussels, Belgium. Diners are strapped into chairs which swivel (so they can properly check out the spectacular views) and are treated to a gastronomic experience cooked up by world famous chefs. The concept began in 2006 in Brussels but is now replicated in 55 countries around the world.

Ninja-style nosh

Once you’ve been guided across a setting designed to look like a 15th-century Japanese feudal village, featuring snaking passageways, dark nooks and fake boulders, costume-clad ninja servers will swoop in to serve you sushi and sake at Ninja New York. Your ninja servers (in black costumes, of course) will bow, yelp and perform tricks, ninja-style. Alongside the kooky performances and setting, you’ll enjoy signature dishes like king crab with mango and black Angus teriyaki steak with risotto.

Eat among the tree tops

Take your dining to new heights with the Treepod Dining experience at the Soneva Kiri resort in Thailand. Here, guests are wined and dined while seated in a bamboo pod suspended from a tree by ropes, high above a tropical rainforest. First, you’ll be hoisted up 16 feet into the foliage. Once you're safely seated in the custom-made bamboo pod, food and drinks are then delivered to you in style by a zip-lining waiter.

Pig out like a prisoner

If you want to know what it’s like to dine like a prisoner without committing any crimes, check out Tokyo’s Alcatraz ER. Diners at this “medical prison” are handcuffed and brought to their cells where they are served by nurse waitresses who demand they finish their food. The restaurant is meant to mimic the experience of eating inside a blood-spattered emergency room of a high-security prison. While it’s strange enough that Alcatraz ER is a cross between a hospital and jail, it also serves anatomically correct, genitalia-themed food.

Dining in the dark

First introduced in Canada in 2006 with the opening of O.NOIR in Montreal, dining in the dark’s philosophy is that when sight is eliminated, diners’ enjoyment is enhanced. In other words, when you “dine in the dark” without the sense of sight, your other senses of taste, touch, smell and hearing are amplified. The evening begins in a lit bar before diners are led into a darkened dining room. A two-hour seated dinner service begins and servers explain where everything is on the table. The restaurant takes the concept so seriously it bans the use of cell phones, flashlights, cigarette lighters, matches and luminous watches.

Enjoy an icy feast

Feast on hearty Lappish cuisine like sautéed reindeer at the Ice Restaurant, where the temperature is always between -2 and -5 Celsius degrees. Located in Lainiotie, Finland, everything inside is made of ice and snow and illuminated with candles and colorful lights. Dinner is a 3-course menu.

Pie in the Sky

Chow down on Chicago deep dish pizza - served 1,353 feet above the Windy City at The Ledge restaurant. One of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions, the restaurant is located on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, which is the eighth-tallest building in the world. The restaurant is essentially a glass box which extends four feet outside the tower. After hours, diners with a sense of adventure can enjoy the “Pie in the Sky” experience by ordering a world famous Chicago-style pizza with incredible views of the lit-up city below.