Sudanese Pound
Photo by: Wikipedia, Creative Commons

The Sudanese Pound is the official Sudan currency with currency code SDG. Egypt occupied Sudan in 1821 thus the Egyptian pound circulated in Sudan for a long time until 1956. The Egyptian pound can further be divided into 100 qirush (or Piastre in English).

Throughout the rule of Muhammad ibn Abdalla and Abdallahi ibn Muhammad, a qirsh is equivalent to 40 para. In 1916, the qirsh is equal to 10 millim. When Sudan gained independence from Egyptian and British rule, they issued their own Sudanese pound (currency code: SDP) which was at par with the British Pound Sterling until 1971.

In 1992, the Dinar replaced the pound with a 1 dinar to 1o pounds rate. The Dinar started to circulate in the northern part of Sudan while the south still adopted the pound. In the cities of Yei and Rumbek, however, the Shilling (Kenya’s currency) was more accepted especially with the transport and hotel sectors.

In 2007, as a result of the peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and a group called The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, a new currency in the form of the second or new pound which became legal tender on July 1 of 2007 was issued by the central bank. The rate became 100 dinar = 1 pound.

Coins of the second pound (SDG) come in the following denominations: 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 piastres. They are made mostly in brass (copper and nickel). The 20 and 50 piastres are bi-metallic. The 20 piastre has a yellow ring color with silver center and the 50 piastre is the opposite. Banknotes that are issued in the second pound (SDG) come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pounds. Current exchange rates value Sudanese pound at 1 USD = 2.66 SDG.

In January 2011, the people of Southern Sudan held a plebiscite seeking to separate from the North to end decades of civil war. More than 99% of voters chose to separate making Southern Sudan’s secession official. With the new independent Sudanese state, Southern Sudanese officials have already made public their plans to issue another new currency after the secession.

The uniqueness of the Swiss franc owes to the fact that it’s the only extant variant of the franc issued in Europe. Following a treaty mandating all EU member countries, France adopted the Euro system of currency thus giving up the French franc.

The Swiss franc or CHF—Confoederatio Helvetica Franc—is the official currency of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In the Italian exclave Campione d’Italia the Swiss franc is legally recognized, while it is widely circulated in the German exclave Büsingen whose legal currency is the Euro. Switzerland is a multilingual country and recognizes four national languages—German, French, Italian and Romansh. For this reason, the wording in Swiss franc currency is neutral, using Latin since it was the last known commonly-used language among the populace.

The Swiss franc uses ₣ or S₣ signs and its international currency code is CHF. Due to the quadrilingual nature of the nation the Swiss franc is also known by the following: ‘Franken’ in German, French and Romansh, while ‘Franco’ in Italian. The term ‘franc’ originates from the Latin ‘Francorum Rex’ or ‘King of Franks’ inscribed in old French coins. (The Franks were the precursor of Western European Empires that dominated the continent and the rest of the world in the middle ages.)

In the English language, references to Swiss franc denominations are adopted from the French names—hence one Swiss franc is equivalent to one hundred centime (‘rappen’ in German, ‘centismo’ in Italian, and ‘rap’ in Romansh). The Swiss National Bank is in charge of issuing banknotes that come in 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 1000 denominations while the federal Swissmint issues 5, 10 and 20 centimes and 1/2, 1, 2, and 5 Swiss franc coins.

Although it isn’t a member of the European Union, Switzerland coheres with the economic and financial practices of the EU so that the Swiss franc can compete internationally. In fact, the financial institutions in Switzerland are very strong that the nation doesn’t need to consider adopting the Euro currency unit. Swiss franc reserves also pose as a contender against the popularity of other world currencies such as the US dollar and the Euro, ranking fifth or sixth overall. The Swiss franc has been leveraging around the weakness of the US dollar against the value of the Euro, closing at about 0.967 CHF to $1 USD in 2010. Since the middle of 2003 the value of the Swiss franc has remained stable against the Euro but it actually has less purchasing power due to the higher cost of living in Switzerland.

Fruits are common components of a Korean dessert
Photo by: Christina Xu, Creative Commons

To the Westerners, desserts usually conclude a meal, the last bit of greatest sweet satisfaction, be it a slice of cake, ice cream, cookies or pies. On the other hand, the Koreans perceive dessert as a part of their tradition and for the most part comprise mainly of a couple slices of fruits. For instance, a Korean dessert could be an Asian pear, watermelon, a mandarin orange, or probably a somewhat sweet beverage such as sujunggwa, which is a juice of persimmon and cinnamon.

Other delicious desserts are sweet teas; also made of fruits and sweetened honey. Mee-shil cha is composed of apricots. Mo-gwa cha, which is made with a quince and the honey teas such as ggool tae chu cha and ggool cha. Korean desserts may also include some nibbly-snack like such as narungji, which is the term used to refer to a sheet of crispy, unsalted rich layer derived from the bottom of a rice cooker. Korean desserts are not meant to overcome a meal and are often very light.

Korean desserts can also be very sweet. They may include cookies, rice cakes, ice creams as well as some sweet pastries. Songpyeon, a famous rice cake is served during a festival at autumn called Chuseok. This rice cake is decorated with seeds and nuts. Another rice cake called Ddok, which is typically formed into different sizes and shapes and are also soft and chewy. Other common desserts in Korea are rolls such as ho-ddok, which comes with a cinnamon and honey filling on the inside. Pot-bingsu is the Korean version of the ice cream, which is made of mainly sugar sauce, red beans, crushed ices, and fruits. A dough composed of sweet red beans called boong-aw bbang is another popular dessert.

Unlike its Western counterparts which are eaten as a final heightened experience in taste, desserts from Korea are simple and soothing to the stomach.

The flag of Haiti is composed of equal horizontal parts of blue and red defaced by the country’s coat of arms in the center. A country of multi ethnicity and color, these colors represent the union of the races that make up the country. Blue signifies the black population and its link to its African roots while the red symbolizes the country’s multi ethnic populace. These two colors are also an adaptation of the French flag.

The coat of arms in the flag of Haiti shows six draped flags, three on each side, and in the center lays a palm tree with a liberty cap of red and blue. These figures are resting on a green lawn and surrounded by cannons, cannonballs and other items such as a drum, a bugle and ship anchors (via rivera at dhead online). These weapons signify the willingness and the ability of the people to fight for their country and its freedom. Below is also a scroll with Haiti’s motto – L’ Union Fait La Force or Union is Strength – is inscribed.

There is a lore widely known among the Haitians that the flag was created when the new appointed leader, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, ripped the white part of the French flag. Haiti, being a colony of France, interprets the white color of the flag to be a symbol of the French colonial oppression. Dessalines gave the ripped flag to his god daughter Catherine Flon who later sewed the red and blue parts back on. These colors will then represent the union of the ethnicities that comprises the country. The date is May 18, 1803. This date in turn became the celebrated Haitian Flag Day.

Over the course of history, the Haitians have been changing the colors of their flags making it black and red instead of the blue and red pair. The coat of arms was added to differentiate the flag of Haiti from the Liechtenstein’s. It was found out at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics that the two nations are bearing the same banner.

The Zimbabwean dollar was the official currency of Zimbabwe from 1980 to April 12, 2009.  Due to political turmoil and the collapse of the economy, the Zimbabwean dollar with currency code ZWD (symbol: Z$) is no longer in circulation.  Instead, standard trading currencies used and accepted today are the US dollar and South African rand.  The UK pound, Euro, and the Botswana pula are also generally accepted.

On April 18, 1980, The Republic of Zimbabwe gained independence from former British colony Rhodesia.  As a result the Zimbabwean dollar was issued to replace the Rhodesian dollar at par value. At that time, the Zimbabwean dollar was higher in value against the US dollar at 1.59.  However, since then political turmoil, hyperinflation, and the collapse of the economy has severely devalued the Z$ making it one of the weakest currencies in the world.

By 2008 inflation rates peaked at 80 billion percent a month.  That’s 6.5 quindecillion novemdecillion percent a year–or 65 followed by 107 zeros!  Simply put, this means that inflation was at 98% a day and that prices of basic commodities doubled every 24.7 hours.

The Z$ underwent three re-denominations in 2006, 2008, and 2009.  For up to July 2008, a Z$100 billion banknote can only purchase 3 pieces worth of eggs.  On July 30, 2008, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe redenominated Z$10 billion to Z$1.  Coins were subsequently issued with and valued at Z$25, Z$10 and Z$5; banknotes, on the other hand, were issued and were valued at Z$5, Z$10, Z$20, Z$100 as well as Z$500.  On the 2^nd of February, 2009, another redenomination made the Z$1 trillion equivalent to Z$1 new (4th edition).  New bank notes were introduced again at Z$1, Z$5, Z$10, Z$20, Z$50, Z$100 and Z$500.  These currencies remained legal tender and circulated together until June 30, 2009.  During this time 1 US dollar was trading above 300 trillion Zimbabwe dollars.

In January 2009, the use of foreign currencies was legalized.  This move led to a sharp drop in the usage of the said currency.  By April 12, 2009, the Zimbabwean dollar was abandoned as an official currency.  According to the Zimbabwe government, they will only reintroduce the dollar if industrial output would average 60 percent more of its current output capacity as compared to the April 2009 output of 20 percent.

Kimchi Chigae can be quite spicy
Photo by: dbdbrobot, Creative Commons

At every meal of the day, Koreans typically consume soup or stew. This is the reason why the Korean cuisine has an amazing variety of soups and stews. Many of these stews or soups are extremely hearty and spicy and they typically range from clear broth preparations to miso-based soups. The following are some of the most popular soups and stews in Korea:

Yukaejang
Yukaejang is a hearty spicy beef soup in Korea that warms you from your lips to your toes. This Korean soup is particularly full of meat and vegetable and is fiery red, spicy and bold. This soup is a complete meal in a pot which requires very little hands-on but tastes like you spent the entire day preparing for it.

Kongnamul Gook
This Korean bean sprout soup is relatively inexpensive and is very easy to prepare. It has a light, refreshing flavor. This particular Korean soup is healthy, low in calories and rich in vitamin C as it is intended to cure hangovers. For curing colds, you may also add kochukaru or red pepper flakes.

Miyuk Gook
This is a Korean seaweed soup which is also called the “birthday soup” in Korea. This Korean soup mainly made from seaweed is also given to mothers for post-partum recovery after giving birth. This particular soup is naturally low in calories, rich in protein, iron and calcium. It is a healthy and light soup which is good at any meal of the day.

Kimchi Chigae
Kimchi Chigae is a spicy kimchi stew which is served bubbling hot. This Korean stew makes good use of older or leftover kimchi. Kimchi Chigae is hearty, fiery hot and full of flavor, which make it great for cold winter days although it can be eaten anywhere and anytime of the day.

Soondubuchigae
This is a spicy Korean soft tofu stew. This stew in particular manages to be both healthy and hearty all at the same time.

Galbi Tang
Galbi Tang is a rich and delicate short rib soup which is prepared from short ribs Korean radish and glass noodles.

A Korean diet typically has lots of rice, kimchi, vegetables, and some proteins
Photo by: pointnshoot, Creative Commons

For many years, the Koreans have consumed food products which are derived from the field, the sea and the mountain mainly because of the special characteristics of the Korean peninsula. Moreover, the peculiar climate also makes Korean food richer. Korean foods in general are very particular, special, and exotic. Spiciness is considered as one of the most distinguishing characteristic of the Korean food. To enhance different Korean foods, basic seasonings such as wine, vinegar, mustard, sesame, ginger, garlic, bean paste, soy sauce, green onion, red pepper have been combined in many ways.

Korean diet has unique side dishes. Steamed vegetables, cabbage kimchi, fish, broiled beef and bean paste soup are some of the most popular side dishes in Korea. Hanjoungshik is the term used to describe a full course Korean meal, which is composed of steamed short ribs, grilled fish and other vegetable and meat dishes with soup, steamed rich and kimchi.

Kimchi is considered as the most popular food item in Korea. It is a vegetable dish which is seasoned with garlic, pepper, and many other spices. Kimchi is an important part of the Korean diet and a staple dish at every meal. Kimchi is known to be low in fat and rich in vitamins C and A. It also contains lactic acid and is very high in fiber, which aids in making you feel full, thus aids in creating a balanced digestion.

In contrast to a lot of foods in Western countries, Korean foods generally do not contain excessive sugar. Aside from vegetables, rice is the most popular form of carbohydrate in Korea and has no added sugar or gluten.

The Korean diet in general makes use of many vegetables and grains which add protein and fiber from both vegetables (soy sauce, bean paste, bean sprouts and bean curd) and meats. Korean foods are typically low in fat, contain moderate calories and sweet in taste which make them well-balanced and very healthy. The Korean diet is also rapidly evolving and the food industry in Korea is also evolving as fast as the speed of light.

Dong is the currency of Vietnam. This is being issued by the State Bank of Vietnam since 1978 and is divided into 10 hao. This was also the currency used in China long ago during the time of Dynasty. It is worth noting here, however, that the government has ceased issuing the sub-unit hao because it has become worthless.

The first Vietnamese dong was issued as coins, denominated into 5. This was issued in 1978. After quite a while, people thought of issuing notes or paper bills like in other countries for this is cheaper and is more convenient to use. Just imagine carrying tons of dongs if you need a thousand, wouldn’t that be so heavy?

The Bank of Vietnam issued 10 types of cotton notes. First is the 100 dong which was issued in 1992. This was followed by the Orange 200 dong issued in 1987; the pink dong which was issued on August 15, 1989; the multicolor on lime background 1000 dong and the multicolor 2000 dong both issued in October 20, 1989; the blue 5000 dong released in January 15, 1993; the red 10000 dong issued on October 15, 1994; the blue 20000 dong issued on march 2, 1993; the green 50000 dong issued in October 15, 1994; and lastly the brown 100000 dong which was issued on September 1, 2000.

These sets of cotton notes were replaced by polymer notes in 2003, which includes the 10,000 VND, 20,000 VND, 50,000 VND, 100,000 VND, 200,000 VND, and the 500,000 VND. This has been an issue in the country; people say that it is not the people of Vietnam who will benefit from the change but the son of the governor of the State Bank of Vietnam. Nevertheless, it was released and was used by people as replacement since they have to follow what the leaders say.

The value of Vietnam dong in the world market has been greatly affected by the Vietnam war. During those times, the country was in deep trouble, because the leaders of the country were corrupt. Aside from the fact that the people of the state were being greatly manipulated by the leaders, they did not give focus to their economic standing in the international scene.

Pad Thai: a classic dish considered to be among the most popular in Thailand
Photo by: Steve Snodgrass, Creative Commons

Every dish in Thailand is always cooked from fresh ingredients. Those who live in Thailand make it a point to eat foods that are freshly made. It is the main reason why Thai dishes are considered to be among the most delicious foods in the world. Rice, locally referred to as kaow, is considered to be the heart of all Thai cuisines.

All regions in Thailand have their own variations of rice which are unique to their individual climate and geographical conditions. Coconut milk is also considered to be the main ingredient of most Thai dishes. People in Thailand also emphasize finding the freshest coconut milk to ensure that every Thai cuisine that they create offers distinctive and irresistible taste. Few of the many Thai cuisines that you might enjoy in Thailand are the following:

Pad Thai
This is also known as Thailand-style fried noodles. It is a classic dish considered to be among the most popular dishes in Thailand. This dish is proven to taste really good with prawns and eggs.

Penang Gai (Penang Chicken Curry)
Once you get the chance to visit Thailand, you will notice that this is among the Thai dishes that you can find anywhere. The dish is characterized by a creamy coconut curry. Thai cooks also adds Thai basil and kaffir lime leaves to intensify the flavor.

Som Tum
This is a Thai salad that uses green papaya as its main ingredient. This is dish is offered by most street vendors in Thailand. The vendors mix this dish up with the use of pestle and mortar in order to get all the desired flavors out of its many ingredients. Aside from fresh green papaya, Som Tum uses palm sugar, green chili, Thai string beans and dried shrimp for its ingredients. All together, these ingredients are mixed into a delicious and fiery salad.

These are just few of the foods that you will certainly enjoy during your Thailand trip. There are still a lot of Thai foods out there not yet mentioned in this article, so be sure to be on the look out for other Thai dishes.

Sticky rice with mango… hello teddy bear!
Photo by: Esme Vos, Creative Commons

Ever thought of visiting Thailand? You must, because Thai desserts are confections that you do not want to miss. Desserts and sweets in Thailand are popular for their extreme sweetness. It is also proven to be heavy in comparison to other desserts that are considered airy and light. Some of the many characteristics of Thai sweets that set it apart from any other desserts are its sweet sticky rice, coconut cream, custard and its wide array of fruits. Here are few of the desserts in Thailand that you will definitely find irresistible:

1. Sticky Rice with Mango
This dessert is composed of mouth-watering ingredients like sweet sticky rice, ripe yellow and non-stringy mango, and sweet coconut cream topping. This is one of the desserts that most tourists in Thailand enjoy.

2. Sticky Rice with Durian
This is also among the most unique sweets in Thailand. This is made out of sweet sticky rice, overly ripe durian and sweet coconut cream. The process of creating this includes placing ripe durian on top of the sweet sticky rice. The sweet coconut cream is then poured over the mixture, which results to a very sensational dessert.

3. Coconut Rice Dumplings
Also referred to as Khanon Krok, this dessert can be found all over Thailand. Its ingredients are rice flour, sweet coconut, and a wide array of toppings. This is cooked similarly to pancakes on hot griddles.

4. Thai Ice Cream Sandwich
This is among the most delicious and interesting Thai desserts. The process of creating this includes loading coconut ice cream into a hamburger bun. Peanuts and sticky rice are then placed at the bottom of the bun. The hamburger bun is used as this is proven to successfully hold and soak up the melting ice cream.

5. Thai Pancakes
Also known as roti, this food is both popular as a snack and dessert. It is cooked by frying thin layers of pastry dough on a hot pan through butter and oil. If you want to add more taste to this pancake, you may add ingredients such as chocolate and banana.

Tanzanian Shilling
Photo by: Wikipedia, Creative Commons

The Tanzanian Shilling is the official currency of Tanzania with currency code TZS. A shilling is subdivided into 100 cents. In 1966, it replaced a long list of currencies that circulated in the East African region such as the German East African Rupee, the British East Africa Rupee, the British East Africa Florin, and the British East Africa Shilling. Although the shilling is the official currency, most large and high end establishments like hotels, restaurants, and wildlife parks will accept US dollars or British pounds.

Shilling coins come in denominations 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. The 5, 10, and 20 shilling is made up of nickel clad steel and the 50, 100, and 200 coins are minted in brass. Banknotes in circulation are the 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 shilling.

Newly released notes came out in January 2011 and were a bit smaller compared to their predecessors. The notes feature the politics, rich heritage, wildlife, and industry of Tanzania.

The new 500 note is green in color. It features the Coat of arms, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume on the obverse. The reverse side displays a stick with a snake coiled around it, the central hall of the University of Dar es Salaam, students wearing gowns and caps for graduation, and a giraffe. The watermark shows Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania.

The 1,000 note is colored blue and features a Coat of arms, President Julius Kambarage Nyerere, and the Mwanza Harbor’s Bismarck Rock. The reverse side shows a coffee plant and the State House (Ikulu) with a flag in Dar Es Salaam. The watermark shows Julius Kambarage.

The 2,000 shilling note is colored brown and tan. The obverse features a Coat of arms and a lion. The reverse shows palm trees, the old Omani Arab Fort (Ngome Kongwe) in Zanzibar’s Stone Town, a carved block, and a Spark patch that is diamond-shaped and has a giraffe head. The watermark is Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 2000.

The 5,000 shillings is colored purple. The front features a Coat of arms, plant, and a black rhinoceros. The back shows mining machinery, cut rough diamonds, and a diamond-shaped Spark patch with giraffe head. Watermark is Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 5000.

The 10,000 shilling note is yellow and red. The front features a Coat of arms and elephant. The back shows flowers, the Bank of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, and a Spark patch, diamond-shaped giraffe head. Watermark is Julius Kambarage Nyerere with electrotype 10000.

The new notes has security and anti-counterfeiting features such as Motion windowed security threads, Spark patches, and watermarks with electrotype denominations. The Tanzanian shilling is today valued at approximately 1 USD = 1,520 TZS.

The amount of the Shilling is unusually written in the form of x/y where x is the amount 1 shilling and up and y is the amount in cents. An equal sign or hyphen represents a zero amount. For instance, 50 cents is written as “=/50” or “-/50”, while 100 shillings is written as “100/=” or “100/-“.

British Coins
Photo by: Wikipedia, Creative Commons

The Great Britain Pound (GBP) is the formal system of currency in the United Kingdom. To distinguish it from the unit of weight, GBP is officially referred to as the Sterling pound denoted by the use of the symbol £—‘L’ standing for ‘libra’ which is Latin for ‘pound.’ Along with the United States Dollar and the Euro, it is one of the world’s most extensively traded money.

In fact, the Pound sterling is the highest valued of the major currencies, with an average year-end worth of £0.64 against $1 USD in 2010. The origin of the reference ‘Sterling’ dates back to 1266 when a troy pound of high concentration of silver was the standard of exchange and commerce in England.

The history of British money is as interesting as the many names and colloquial terms that the Sterling pound has been known for through the years. Old coins prior to the introduction of metal coins in 1158 were actually made of pure silver. The Pound sterling was officially established by Queen Elizabeth I in 1560, while a re-denomination of the pound in 1971 meant 100 pence (each a ‘penny’) today is the equivalent of one pound instead of the 240-pence convention prior to decimalization of the pound system.

The quid is also known as the pound, and the symbol for the penny is ‘p.’ Individual coins are often pronounced ‘pee’ rather than ‘penny’ or ‘pence.’ British coins come in 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2 denominations while British paper money in £5, £10, £20, and £50 notes. Scotland, in addition, even uses a £100 note. A glut of British slang like ‘folding stuff’ (referring to all British paper money) is commonly used to refer to different denominations of varying amounts.

Over the centuries the Sterling pound has maintained its dominance in both European and world markets bolstered by a highly-valuable fixed exchange rate. The United Kingdom also possesses the unique privilege in the European Union (along with Denmark) of opting out of the mandatory adoption of the Euro system of currency by EU member nations.

The idea of the British pound system being absorbed by a monetary union with other Eurozone member nations is a subject that is controversial. The UK is adamant in replacing their official currency which the British people consider it to be the symbol of their heritage, pride and security. Although the circulation of the Euro also meant the decrease in pound currency reserves in central banks and private institutions around the world, strong British financial and trade markets enabled the Sterling Euro to weather the recent worldwide recession and maintain their financial superiority.

Thai Green Curry: Healthy and DELICIOUS
Photo by: Hajime Nakano, Creative Commons

Thai foods are considered to be among the healthiest foods in the world. They are the reason why despite the fact that Thailand owns the world’s tastiest and most delicious cuisines, people there are still very healthy with slim bodies, shining hair, and glowing skin. Food choice strongly affects the health of a person and the way he or she looks.

Since the average Thai diet is usually stuffed with herbs, vegetables, and fish, Thai foods are generally low in fat and calories. Because of this, one may enjoy eating without worrying about gaining excessive weight. Another good thing about Thai foods is that they actually taste good when compared to other healthy and vegetarian foods. Because of a mixture of fresh ingredients and a dazzling blend of a variety of flavors, you will find their foods extremely irresistible in addition to being healthy choices.

In comparison to other Asian diets, dishes in Thailand can be easily distinguishable. Thailand’s hot and spicy dishes continue to set them apart from the rest. Its foods have intense and delicious flavors that everyone loves. Thai foods may include garlic, hot chili, lemongrass, coconut fresh meat, seafood, poultry, and tropical fruits and vegetables as ingredients.

The typical breakfast in Thailand is Jok or Khao Tom. Jok is a kind of rice porridge while Khao Tom is considered to be a rice soup that is mixed with chicken, shrimp, and pork. Sate and Green Curry are also among the popular meals in Central Thailand. Sate is a grilled meat, either chicken or pork, both served with peanut sauce and cucumber salad. Green Curry, on the other hand, is made out of fresh green chili. Thai basil and fish meatballs or chicken are included in it. Green Curry is considered to be the spiciest of all the curries in Thailand.

The Thai diet is includes one of the healthiest foods that you can consume. With a mixture of fresh ingredients and delicious flavors, eating can be a very wonderful experience in Thailand. You will definitely enjoy delicious foods while ensuring that your health is at its best.

The Kwacha is the official currency of the country of Zambia with currency code ZMK. It is further divided into 100 Ngwee. Kwacha means “dawn” in Bemba and Nyanja languages while ngwee means “bright”. These word meanings allude to the slogan “new dawn of freedom.”

The Zambian kwacha was introduced in 1968 and was a replacement to the pound. The rate is at 2 kwacha to a pound (or a kwacha to 10 shillings) after Zambia gained independence from British rule. The kwacha value was at 1.2 US dollars when it started out in 1968 but it suffered from high inflation rates thereafter. In 2006, a dollar was valued at 4,800 kwacha. Since 2006 until present, the kwacha remains at relatively the same value.

Kwacha coins are available in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 ngwee; as well as 1, 5 and 10 kwacha. All these are legal tender, but, because their value has diminished as a result of high inflation they are now not used in normal trading. One will only see kwacha coins given as souvenirs or keepsakes to tourists.

Kwacha banknotes are available in 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 kwacha denominations. Throughout the kwacha’s unstable and high inflation history, the Zambian government is forced to continually issue new and larger note denominations. Up until the year 1991, the banknotes featured a representation of President Kenneth Kaunda on their facade.

And since 1992, a new series was introduced that featured on the obverse an African Fish Eagle. And in 1989, all notes featured the Chain breaker statue on the reverse side. Zambia was the 1st African country to come up with polymer notes. Both 500 and 1000 kwacha are polymer-printed. Even though the 20 kwacha is still in use, its value is greatly diminished that most establishments will not accept it and round off their product prices to the nearest 50 kwacha.

For visitors to Zambia, it may be wise to limit your currency exchange to kwacha or to not change your money at all. Exchange only when necessary for your basic expenses since there is a strong possibility that you will take a loss when you change it back again to your home currency. Plus, many establishments do accept strong currencies like the US dollar. Therefore, it’s wiser to pay for your expenses using a more stable currency as much as you’re able.

Thai iced tea is a preferred drink for hot weather
Photo by: bfishadow, Creative Commons

Because Thailand is known for hot temperature, many of its drinks are iced. Ice offers Thai people refreshing coolness. Most of the drinks and beverages in Thailand also use condensed milk as one of their major ingredients. The sweet taste of condensed milk greatly helps in battling against the heat and the many spicy foods in Thailand.

If you are thinking of creating a drink a la Thailand style, then be aware that you will need many ingredients for it. Among the most popular Thai drinks that you can prepare for yourself is Thai iced tea. You just need water, black tea leaves, sugar, condensed milk and crushed ice for its ingredients. What you need to do is to first boil the water. Once it boils, you can pour it on top of the black tea leaves in a jug or teapot. Strain it for about two minutes and add sugar before you leave it to cool. While waiting for the tea to cool, you can fill a glass or a container with plenty of crushed ice and mix the condensed milk. You can then pour cold tea in the glass or container and serve the drink.

Thai Sweet Basil Seed Drink is also among the most popular Thai drinks that you can easily make. This drink is considered by the people in Thailand as a huge help for those who want to obtain a slimmer body. The ingredients that you will need in creating this drink are sugar, water, clear honey, and Thai sweet basil seed. What you need to do is to stir sugar in water. Once the sugar dissolves, you can add clear honey and then continue stirring the mixture. You then stir in basil seeds. In order to make the most out of this drink, you have to leave it for minutes prior to drinking or before serving it to guests.

Thai seafood soups are incredibly hearty and delicious
Photo by: Jeremy Keith, Creative Commons

Thai foods are some of the delicacies in Asia that you do not want to miss. I might suggest Thai soups, as these are proven to be very delicious. Some of the famous soups in Thailand that are worth trying are the following:

Seafood Soup or Tom Kha Chicken Soup
This soup is considered to be very unique and delicious, because coconut milk is used as one of its ingredients. This soup can be created in two ways. The first way, which is also referred to as Tom Kha Kai, uses chicken as one of its ingredients. The second version uses seafood in the mixture. Both versions are equally popular in Thailand because of their authentic taste. The soup incorporates a wide array of spices and is tamed with the help of coconut milk. The result is the mixture that is authentically Thai and completely different from any other seafood or chicken soup.

Thai Chicken Cabbage Soup
This soup is popular in Thailand, because aside from its delicious taste, it is also proven to be low in fat and calories. It is the main reason why this soup is highly recommended by most nutritionists. You can even try to cook this at home and you can do this in according to your own tastes and preferences. The soup is composed of healthy and delicious ingredients like boneless and skinless chicken breasts, chicken broth, leeks, carrots, cabbage, egg noodles and Thai chili sauce. You can cook this soup within 45 minutes. Just keep in mind that it is best for you to serve this soup while hot because it can heighten its appetizing flavor. In place of leeks, onions can also be used. If you want to give the soup more of a Thai flavor, lemon grass can also be added on the mixture. This can make the soup even more exotic and delicious.

Tom-Yang-Gung
This is among the most famous Thai soups that are best served during dinner. This soup uses seafood, vegetables, and coconut milk for its ingredients. To intensify its flavor, tiny chili and lime juice are also added. Tom-Yang-Gung is also best served with steaming hot rice.

The country of Ethiopia holds the Ethiopia birr as its official currency. A full history of the currency dates back to the year 1894. During the aforementioned year, the first currency of Ethiopia was called Menelik Talers. When the country was held captive by Italian forces, the currency was forcefully changed into the Italian lire until expulsion of these captors was achieved in the year 1942. In the year 1945, the Ethiopian birr was finally introduced. First, it was called the Ethiopian dollar; it was renamed birr in the late 1979.

The first Ethiopian birr was introduced with copper coins between the years 1894 and 1897. The denominations of such coins are as follows: 1/100 and 1/32 birr; the silver 1 ghersh, 1/8, ¼, ½ and 1 birr; and the gold ¼, ½, and 1 werk. By the year 1931, a new series of coins was produced and circulated. The coins that contained copper were the 1 and 5 metonnyas; nickel, on the other hand, was used in 10, 20, and 50 metonnyas.

In the year 1944, the second set of Ethiopian birr coins was introduced. There were the copper 1, 5, 10 and 25 santim, and the silver 50 santim. Issued in 1977, the second series consists of 1 santim in aluminum material; the brass made 5 and 10 santim; and the 25 and 50 santim made from cupronickel.

Aside from the Amharic legends, there are certain features that were inscribed in the Ehtiopian birr which made it stand out from other currencies. Early dated coins provided the feature of a crowned rampant lion holding a cross. Meanwhile, the later dated coins contained a roaring lion with a flowing mane.

As for the banknotes of Ethiopian birr, two sets of birr were also introduced – similar with the birr coins’ case. The first introduced birr, in the year 1915, was issued by the Bank of Abyssinia with the following denomination notes: 5, 10, 100 and 500 talari. The text on these notes were said to be in Amharic and French. Later, in the year 1929, the 50–talari note was circulated throughout the country. On the other hand, in the year 1932 the Bank of Ethiopia issued notes with denominations of 5, 10, 50 and 500 talari, as well. In 1933, a 2–talari note was made to honor an Imperial couple and by the end of 1934, almost 3.3 million talari notes circulated the entire Ethiopian country.

The second introduction of birr was made by the State Bank of Ethiopia in the year 1945. These notes were then denominated with the following: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 birr. In year 1966, the National Bank of Ethiopia reigned as the sole producer of all the birr note denominations except for the 500 birr.

In the current setting and time, Ethiopian birr is known to be the second most used currency in Africa with 88 million people using it. One US dollar is said to be equivalent to 16.73 birr.

The Euro is the single-currency monetary system in most of Continental Europe and several European-influenced nations. The Euro (denoted by the €EUR) officially went into circulation for the first time in 2002 and is the result of the strategic integration of European market and monetary systems.

Twelve European Union member countries (Belgium, Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Estonia, France, Greece, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Italy, Malta, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, and Slovenia) that make up the Eurozone consider the Euro as their exclusive currency, as well as European countries like Andorra, Montenegro, Monaco and the Vatican.

The Euro is a paragon of a monetary union aimed at centralizing financial and economic markets that fosters political integration among countries forged in strategic partnerships.

Several milestones in the history of European monetary reform led to the invention of the Euro. It is the single greatest monetary replacement the world has ever witnessed since the Roman Empire’s system of currency (and taxation) dominated the ancient world. The idea of promoting European markets by strengthening and facilitating free trade among members of the Eurozone resulted in the creation of the European Monetary System (EMS) in 1979—setting the stage for the world’s first paragon of unilateral monetary scheme that entered financial markets globally in 1999 as an accounting currency.

Today the twelve Eurozone member countries share a one system of currency, a standard interest rate, and a common central bank called European System of Central Banks or ESCB. The ESCB—consisting of the European Central Bank (ECB) and Eurozone central banks—is the single authority tasked to oversee and regulate monetary policy, while individual central banks are involved in the printing, minting and circulation of Euro banknotes and coins. The currency of approximately 327 million Europeans, Euro paper money in €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500 banknotes and Euro coins in 1¢, 2¢, 5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢, €1, and €2 denominations are frequently used.

The ascent of the Euro poses a challenge to the dominance of the United States dollar in worldwide financial and economic markets. By the end of 2010 the Euro averaged at €1.33 to $1 US dollar. Pegged to a basket of international currencies used by over 175 million people globally, the Euro is the second largest accumulated international reserve currency.

In addition, the Bank of International Settlements—a bank of central banks—reported in 2004 a rapid increase in Euro bank deposits by as much as 20% from 12% in 2001. The continued climb of the Euro in international economic and currency exchange arenas has been at the expense of the weakening US dollar. Although the Euro had a shaky start since its inception in 1995, Eurozone markets hit by the recent recession (like Greece and Ireland) have been stabilizing and with the austere financial measures being applied by the ESCB the Euro is projected to be moderately stable in 2011.

A currency contains a piece of its country’s history, but only few are capable of sharing that history in the form of money. The Kingdom of Bhutan, however, used this tool effectively.

The Bhutanese ngultrum was seeded in one of the smallest countries in the world, located between China and India. The accumulated culture, mostly influenced by Tibetan connections, was transferred on legal tender for all to see. The idea was to reflect on paper the citizen’s affection for its Bhutan origin. The bills’ graphic compositions depicted the characteristics of a nation natively called the “Land of The Thunder Dragon”. Bhutanese love for art and nature was incorporated in print as well.

The intricately detailed paper money already spoke volumes in behalf of its people. Tourism continued to expand and eventually allowed the government to create additional opportunities. Luckily, there are no restrictions on the import or export of ngultrum.

One US dollar is currently equivalent to around 45 BTN. One ngultrum is made up of 100 chetrums. Its current denominations are 5 and 10 (which are not used anymore), 20, and 25 chetrums. A one ngultrum coin is also on circulation. With regards to banknotes, the denominations are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 BTN.

Back in 1974, India played a great part in the economic growth of Bhutan making the Bhutanese ngultrum at par with the Indian rupee. Up until now, this caused the ngultrum to be in exchanging terms only with India’s currency. The ngultrum practically loses its worth outside its own country. It is dependent on India as a medium for trading to other nations. But aside from those two, the US dollar is accepted for buying and paying for commodities in Bhutan.

In order to maintain its assets, the government adjusts financially and uses income from tourism for maintenance cost. Simply put, sight-seers and travelers are being charged for their stay and the services availed. Some experienced tourists see the importance of their contribution to a country’s development and usually will avoid high expenses since they will not necessarily get what they pay for.

Paella is an exquisite dish made exclusively for special occasions
Photo by: Érica Becker de Araujo, Creative Commons

The Filipino diet is as much a reflection of its history as it is a reflection of the country’s geography and natural resources. The Philippines has been blessed with vast arable lands perfect for farming and for raising different animals, and with various fishing grounds as the country is surrounded by water. With so many resources, Filipinos have plenty to choose from with regards to what they eat and this was further compounded by the coming of several foreign influences to the country’s culture and cuisine.

Foremost of these influences are the Chinese who brought with them the practice of growing rice, which led to rice becoming the staple food in the Philippines. It is usually prepared steamed and served with other dishes. The Chinese also brought along with them a slew of seasonings and ingredients that the Filipinos have used in their cooking, like the fish sauce patis. Other countries with a heavy influence on the Filipino diet are Spain and United States.

Because of all these foreign inputs, the Filipino diet has evolved into one that is a mix of the simplicity of local and traditional fare and the complexity of foreign dishes. People in the rural and coastal areas are known to usually eat a simple meal of steamed rice and dried fish only. Complex dishes such as paella and cocido, which are of Spanish influence, are usually prepared for special occasions such as fiestas and birthdays.

The current Filipino diet is said to be very high in sodium and fat owing perhaps to predominant cooking techniques such as deep frying, the increasing preference for meat products such as pork, and the heavy seasoning that comes along with every dish. This is a far cry from the traditional practices of just boiling vegetables and grilling fish, foods that are now only commonly consumed in some provinces.

Fast food chains are abundant in the country, showing the influence of the Americans. Hamburgers, hotdogs, and other common American snacks are consumed daily by younger Filipinos. It seems that history has indeed played a great role not only on how Filipinos eat, but on what they eat.

Guatemala is a sovereign country located between two vast oceans – the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The country illustrates its appreciation to these two bodies of water by incorporating symbols of them to its national flag.

The flag of Guatemala exhibits two sky blue vertical stripes that surround a white band; in the center of it all is Guatemala’s coat of arms. The two sky blue lines, as mentioned above, symbolize the two oceans and the sky above them. The white band, on the other hand, shows peace and purity.

You can see in the flag of Guatemala’s coat of arms the several symbols that are significant to the country – the resplendent quetzal, a scroll parchment, two crossed rifles, bay laurel leaves, and crossed swords (via annette at dresshead inc). The resplendent quetzal is the country’s national bird. The bird with its colorful plumage represents the country’s cherished liberty from Spain. Accordingly, this liberty is celebrated by putting the date of their freedom from the conquering nation in the scroll parchment.

The bay laurel leaves on the other hand signifies victory, the two crossed rifles represents the willingness of the Guatemalans to fight for their country if such need will arise, and the crossed swords denotes their honor, then and now.

Guatemala has numerous flags in its sleeves throughout the country’s history. The Central American flag served as the flag of Guatemala until 1851 when the Spanish colors of yellow and red was added to the flag because of a pro-Spanish faction. The blue and white colors with the coat of arms were used on August of 1871. Currently, the flag that is being used by the Guatemalans was amended in 1997, making it one of the newest national flags in the world today.

The United States dollar has an illustrious track record. The impact of the United States dollar in global macro-economics and worldwide politics is indisputable in spite of the global economic downturn over the last few years. The US dollar is a tried-and-tested currency of preference in international commerce and transcontinental trade since the dawn of the exclusive monetized currency.

The colorful history of the US dollar goes further back than the first established uniform paper currencies of the world (Norway and Denmark in the 1820s) for it actually had its humble beginnings from the first government-issued paper money in the western world dating back to 1690 in colonial Massachusetts.

Prior to its inaugural circulation in 1860 by the federal government and upon the founding of the sovereign nation, the individual states (erstwhile colonies) issued their own money that consisted of a wide dizzying array of notes and denominations. As the national currency of the United States of America, the US dollar today comes in either paper currency in different kinds of notes or hard currency (i.e. coins) in a variety of denominations.

US coins in popular circulation include the cent (1¢), nickel (5¢), dime (10¢), and quarter (25¢), while the half dollar (50¢) and one dollar ($1) coins are rarely used. On the other hand, US paper money in wider circulation include the $1, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bill (collectively monikered ‘Benjamins’).

Monetized banknotes of higher value (i.e. $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 and $100,000) are considered collectors’ items. The $2 note that features former US President Abraham Lincoln is rare. Typically denoted by the standard green color for which the paper currency is widely recognized, the greenback proudly features images of the US founding fathers or former United States presidents.

The United States dollar could still give the rest of the most commanding world currencies today a run for their money. With year-end averages of the Euro at €1.33, Pound sterling at £0.64, Canadian dollar at $1.0042, and Mexican peso at $12.39 in 2010 against the USD, it is projected to maintain a competitive advantage against currencies of their closest trading partners this year. The US dollar still holds on to the unique distinction of being the bench mark unit of currency in international commerce for valuable commodities such as petroleum and gold. Although its value in the international exchange market has been moderately fluctuating in the last few years, the US dollar is still the world’s primary international reserve currency, accounting for more than twice the volume of Euro deposits in central banks and private holdings around the world.

The national currency of Mexico today is called the Mexican peso. Mexican money originates from the Spanish dollar system of currency prevalent in North America during the era of Spanish Imperialism. In fact, the Spanish dollar was widely used in colonial USA and Canada until the first half of the 19th century. Mexican peso is denoted by the dollar sign ($) and is listed in the international exchange index using the acronym MXN.

The silver Spanish dollar was the original basis of Mexican money and was a pioneer in thwarting money counterfeits by issuing specifications like exact weight and definitive borders on old Spanish coins. This made the Spanish dollar very popular and in 1785 it became the official system of currency in all of North America. When the US dollar was first introduced in 1792 its value was pegged to the Spanish dollar at the equivalent exchange rate of 1 peso to 1 dollar. Only when Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821 did the country start minting and printing an exclusive currency.

The Mexican peso has been a highly stable currency overcoming inflation until the nation was hit by an oil crisis in 1970. Mexico is an export-driven economy and the oil industry accounts for a huge percentage in government revenue. The Mexican peso has undergone waves of devaluation that in 1993 the currency underwent a revamp and was renamed ‘Nuevo peso.’ In 1996 new banknotes and coins were issued and released in circulation—however, the reference ‘Nuevo’ was dropped and Mexican money is simply known today as ‘peso.’

The Bank of Mexico—the nation’s central bank—is in charge of administering monetary policy and issuing banknotes such as $20, $50, $100, $200, $500 and $1000 MXN and 50¢, 1$, 2$, 5$, and 10$ Mexican peso coins. In Mexican currency, one peso is equivalent to a hundred centavos. Unlike many of its regional neighbors in Latin America, Mexico has enjoyed a relatively more stable economy for the majority of the 20th century. In recent years is has become one of the fifteen more widely traded world currencies as a result of a stable economy and rise in foreign direct investments. The exchange rate of the Mexican peso was about $12.39 to $1 US dollar in 2010.

The Ugandan Shilling is the official currency of the country of Uganda. It is minted by the Bank of Uganda with currency code UGX. 1 shilling is technically divided into or is equal to 100 cents but no other subdivisions have been initiated since the 1987 Shilling revaluation.

The first Ugandan shilling (UGS) was a replacement to its East African counterpart in 1966 after the British relinquished control of the region. After encountering high inflation, it was revalued and the new shilling (UGX) was brought in in 1987 at a rate of a hundred old shillings per new shilling. The shilling has become stable in recent years and Uganda currently enjoys an efficient and stable foreign exchange market. The US dollar and pound sterling are generally accepted in Uganda. The euro, as well, is gaining increasing popularity. The shilling is valued today at around 1 USD to 2,350 UGX.

The shilling denominations are as follows: 10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 shilling coins. The 10 shilling is curved, equilateral, and heptagonal in shape and made of stainless steel. The 50, 100, 200, and 500 series are made up of copper, nickel, and aluminum bronze. In circulation when it comes to the banknotes are the following: 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 shillings. The Bank of Uganda considered replacing low value notes like the 1000 shilling in 2005 with coins since they were being battered from daily use, which resulted in them becoming dirty and even disintegrating.

Some artworks showcased on some shilling notes are the plantation terraces by the Lake Bunyonyi on the 5000 shilling note from the 2004 series. On the reverse side is the ferry “kaaya” on Lake Victoria. The watermark is the African Crowned Crane. The 20000 note features a crested crane (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps) on the obverse side. The reverse shows the Parliament Building in Kampala. Watermark is the Coat of Arms of Uganda. The 50000 2007 series shows the National Independence Monument on the obverse. The reverse side shows the Ugandan farmers picking cotton. Watermark: Coat of Arms of Uganda.

In 2010 new note designs were released particularly the 1000, 2000, and 5000 series that incorporate the latest security features such as watermarks which look like the State Emblem of Uganda. Protective strips with the micro text of a digital designation of a nominal value run across the notes. Also, there are various holographic strips in the note with visible digital designation of the nominal value and an abbreviation of Bank of Uganda.

Sinigang: a hearty Filipino soup with shrimps and vegetables
Photo by: Roland Tanglao, Creative Commons

Filipino soups, like the rest of the cuisine, are influenced by different cultures owing to the lengthy years under the rule of the Spanish, Americans, and Japanese. But before any of those cultures’ influences came into play, it was through trading with their neighbors from the Northwest – the Chinese – that the Filipinos came upon the practice of creating savory soup bases. Since then Filipino soups have taken a flavor of their own, adapting foreign soups to local ingredients and taste preferences.

Currently, Filipino soups are described as hearty and stew-like owing to the inclusion of large chunks of different kinds of meat, usually seafood, along with pieces of vegetables or noodles. Unlike its Asian neighbors, Filipino soups are meant to be eaten as a meal in themselves usually eaten with rice.

Owing to vast culinary influences, Filipinos have developed different cooking styles resulting to a wide array of soup bases and flavors. Below are some of the commonly prepared soups in Filipino meals.

Sinigang
Sinigang is characterized by a sour taste owing to the tamarind broth from which pieces of pork, beef, chicken, or seafood are cooked. Kangkong or water spinach and slices of radish are also thrown into the mix. Other souring ingredients that can be used in place of tamarind are guava and miso.

Tinola
Tinola is made from chicken pieces cooked in a ginger-flavored broth along with slices of green papaya, chili, and malunggay leaves.

Nilaga
Nilaga is typically a beef stew mixed with pieces of cabbage and potatoes. A variation of nilaga called bulalo, uses the bone marrow instead of pieces of beef.

Binacol
Binacol is a regional specialty from the province of Quezon. It is a chicken soup mixed with pieces of coconut meat and coconut water.

Batchoy
One of the most popular noodle dish in the Phillipines, batchoy is a soup thrown in with pork innards, pork cracklings, chopped veggies, noodles, and topped with raw egg.

Mami
Mami is a proof of the Chinese’s heavy influence on Filipino cuisine. It is a popular noodle soup with pieces of chicken, beef, or pork along with different kinds of dumplings.