Use a rice cooker to make bread!

Yes, it's true! I saw it on the internet!

Apparently if you own a modern rice cooker i.e. one with a timer function, not the old fashioned ones that that just have an On/Keep Warm button, you can actually 'hack' it to turn it into a breadmaker. And if people's comments are to be believed, the results aren't even that bad.

Get the lowdown from The Lazy Chef.

Differences Between Chinese and Japanese Women

A cheeky (and slightly narrow) examination of how Chinese and Japanese women differ, as found on Chinasmack.com

But what would the list for Chinese and Japanese men be like, I wonder? :)

Link: 14 Differences Between Japanese Women & Chinese Women

Bad medicine: Deadly Chinese remedy may still be on sale in shops

The BBC reports that a banned product that has been found to cause cancer in those taking it may still be on sale in some Chinese herbal remedy shops.

The distributor, Ekong International (UK) Ltd, issued a recall last month, but more than three quarters of the stock has still not been returned.

Packs of the product, brought to the UK from China, have had a new English label put on to hide the original label which contained the Chinese symbols for Aristolochia, a banned toxic and carcinogenic derivative of a plant.

The medicine is packed in white plastic bottles, each containing 180 round white tablets.

Anyone out there who uses these types of products or knows someone who does - Beware!

Social Events March 26th-27th 2010

I get emails every now and then about social events and gatherings etc. so I thought I might as well share them with bbc blog readers:


BCS Friday night Drinks - Friday 26th March

Join the BCS for a few drinks at Gordon’s wine bar, thought to be the oldest wine bar in London. After a hard week at work, you’ll be able to sample the impressive range of wine on offer.

Date: Friday 26th March
Venue: Gordon’s wine bar, 47 Villiers Street, London (Charing Cross or Embankment tube station)
Time: 5pm onwards

If it’s your first time to a BCS Drinks don't fret, just send an email to social@britishchinese.org.uk with "Drinks" in the subject, and the organizer will be in touch to help welcome you.



Allure Party - Saturday March 26th

Come Party with us!

aiyaah.com have exclusively hired a venue for us to pack with glamourous party people so please join us!

Date: Saturday 27th March, 2010
Time: 8pm - 2am
Venue: The Distillers, 66 Smithfield, London, EC1A 9DY
Ticket: £10 in advance, £14 on the door
Group Discount: For groups of 8 or above tickets are £8 each - they must all be bought at the same time.
Promoter Discount: For every 10 tickets you buy, you get one free
Note: This is a ticketless event, please print out your Paypal receipt as proof of purchase and ensure you give us the names for the guestlist.
Dress code: Glamour, Allure
The music will be a mix of commercial, pop and r&b

For more information and to buy tickets please go to http://party.aiyaah.com/

All proceeds go to The Chinese Community Centre; a registered charity.

Look forward to seeing you there.

New website explains Right of Abode in Hong Kong

A big thank you to Harry Li who has told me about his highly informative website that explains in depth the issue of Right of Abode in Hong Kong.

This is what I think a lot BBCs have been waiting for; a clear, informative website in English by someone who understands the complicated issues involved.

Head over to Harry's website here.

Related: Old Hong Kong ID cards to become invalid

So much for the new, improved Oriental City?

Eighteen months after the closure of London's much-loved 'alternative' Chinatown, Oriental City remains closed and derelict.

As reported on the bbc blog, the mall - which housed an Asian supermarket, popular Chinese restaurants and a brilliant Asian food court - was bought out by a developer who obtained planning permission from Brent council to turn the site into a shopping and residential complex. The ambitious plans even included building a school on site. As reported here, the planning permission was conditional on some part of the new development being devoted to Asian businesses.

In fact, that developer (Development Securities) decided to sell the site to another company which was subsequently unable to stump up all the cash to seal the deal. The mall is reportedly now in the hands of administrators and the planning permission that was granted will expire in June.

Story: BBC News

So no new development, no new school and no new Oriental City. Or is there?

Wikipedia reports that there are talks amongst former tenants to take back the site and re-open it for business. Good news if they spend some money to renovate the abandoned site. Not so good if they simply switch the lights back on and carry on as before - the site did need some sprucing up, in my opinion.

But furthermore, there are signs that a new development in nearby Wembley wants to stake a claim on being the 'new' Oriental City. Pacific Plaza was set-up by a former Oriental City tenant and once fully opened may offer the same type of services as the old mall.

Link: Pacific Plaza on London Randomness

It's only partially open but could Pacific Plaza take over where Oriental City left off?

Related: The bbc blog's coverage of Oriental City

Photo: Kake Pugh

Gun Hei Fat Choi, Sun Leen Fai Lok!

Wishing all readers, wherever you are, a happy Chinese New Year.

Here's a sample of personal CNY thoughts and celebrations around the world, courtesy of Twitter.

Well, the bbc blog does try to keep up with the latest trends ;)

Perhaps the riskiest tourist attraction in China

... and maybe the world.

Photo: DamnCoolPics

Huashan in Shaanxi province is one of China's sacred mountains and a hugely popular tourist destination. Besides the sedate pleasure of temples and awe-inspiring scenery, there is also a precarious pathway that is becoming known as one of the most deadly tourist activities in the world, a narrow trail that takes hikers up a steep mountainside with at times nothing but a couple of planks or a chain to stop you plummeting to your death.

So how dangerous is this trail? Actually no-one knows the official figures because none are available. But from seeing online accounts and photos, I think we can safely say it's not somewhere you want to take your digital SLR.

Kudos to the guy who installed those planks, though!