Asian community supports QR code in Asheville - ConnectMe QR

A new company has launched in the Asheville community called Connect Me QR. The platform and app they have released is amazing. The Asian community in Asheville is definitely behind the QR code.

The other day, I saw a picture (photo above) of a train ticket from a friend of mine in China. There is a QR code on the ticket, and my friend told me that the QR code has all the information about the ticket, including the destination, the departure and arrival time, the number of the train, etc.

The QR code was first invented by the Japanese in 1994. Then it became extremely popular in Japan and South Korea. Quick response and high speed are two properties of QR code. It is a new tool that you can use to store all the information, like text, URL, videos, pictures or other data. And it is easy to use also, using camera phones and code readers to scan the code, thats it.

Therefore, QR code would be helpful for all the Asian businesses in Asheville, and western North Carolina area.

Asheville Feng Shui

What is Feng Shui? Feng Shui (風水), which developed over 3,000 years ago in China is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it. Also it is based on the Taoist Version and understanding of nature (like: the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy), and has some basic aspects, such as the theories of Yin (feminine) and Yang (masculine) and the five feng shui elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water).

How to use Feng Shui? Generally speaking, Feng Shui can be used for your personal life and also for your business, for indoor of the house and also for the outside. There are some tips of Feng Shui.

For outside of the house:

1. Avoid any sharp structures that point at your front door or any of your house windows. If so, hang on a mirror on the door or on the window.

2. Do not put any garbage bins close to your door or windows.

3. Remove any dead plants in your garden or yard, and replace only with thriving plants.

For indoor of the house:

1. Do not place a mirror right in front of the main door of the house, let the energy come through the main door to nourish your house and your own energy.

2. Do not have mirrors reflecting your bed or behind your bed.

3. Do not place mirrors in the south area of your space.

If you are interested with Feng Shui, you can contact Leslie from Asheville Feng Shui.

Email: leslie@ashevillefengshui.com
Phone: 828-301-3075

The Noodle Shop in Asheville NC

The Noodle Shop is located on the Pack Square in the middle of downtown Asheville. You can enjoy the authentic home-style Chinese cuisine here at very reasonable prices. They offer many choices from appetizers, soups, entrees and soup bowls, and also some special food choices for vegetarians. Besides the tight cozy indoor seating, you also can enjoy the front row seat to the sights and sounds of downtown Asheville.

The Noodle Shop
3 SW Pack Square
Asheville 28801 NC
828-250-9898

Suwana’s Thai Orchid Restaurant in Asheville NC

Suwana’s Thai Orchid restaurant offers authentic Thai cuisine with traditional cooking style, fresh ingredients and the unique background in Thai. Their head chef, Suwana Cry has been a Thai restauranteer and chef for years in many different areas. Now she brings the authentic Thai flavor to Asheville NC. They offer the complete menu for the guest, including Thai appetizer, soup, salad, Thai curries, entree, rice and noodle dishes and also a kid’s menu. Also they work with Valet Gourmet for delivery service for the guests who do not want to leave home.

Suwana’s Thai Orchid Restaurant
11 Broadway Avenue Asheville 28801 NC
828-281-8151

***Also see their website for more information Suwana's Thai Orchid

Benefit for Japan at My Father's Light in Asheville

This Friday and Saturday My Father's Light will be donating 20% of all sales to Samaritan's Purse Ministries to help those misplaced in Japan.

My Father's Light is located on 133 Weaverville Highway Asheville 28804 NC.

Also see their Facebook page for more details.

Akira Satake from Japan at White Horse Black Mountain for benefit

In the picture above is the famous Mountain Fuji in Japan, which lies about 60 miles south-west of Tokyo. After 9.0 magnitude earthquake on March 11th, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck close to Mountain Fuji on last Tuesday (March 15th), likely will result in insured losses of about $500 million.

After the enormous earthquake in Japan, people all over the world tried to help Japanese people as much as they can. A Benefit Concert for the People of Japan will be held on Thursday March 31st at 7pm at White Horse Black Mountain in Western North Carolina.

To my knowledge this is the first local benefit being held for the victims of the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan.

The event is being organized by Akira Satake, an Osaka native currently residing in Swannanoa.

Akira is a master potter and world class musician. He has invited Tony Trischka and other musicians to join him for this special event.

Additional Details are at:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119547424787562

Akira can be reached at:
akirasatake@gmail.com

Chopsticks - how to use them

Do you love Asian food? Do you have hard time to use chopsticks when you try to pick up one piece of sushi or a piece of orange beef? Chopsticks (筷子, kuai zi, in Chinese) are the main eating utensil in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and other Asian countries and areas. Generally believed, chopsticks originated in ancient China as early as Shang dynasty (1766-1122 BCE). The earliest evidence of a pair of chopsticks was excavated from the Ruin of Yin near Anyang area in China, dated roughly 1200 BCE.

Chopsticks are most usually made of bamboo, wood or plastic, but also made of metal, bone and ivory. And there are also chopstick rests, tableware, which are used to keep chopstick tips off the table in Asian cuisine.

Here is a video to show you how to put those chopsticks to action. Please remember to bring your chopsticks and your patience, try hard and have fun, fun, fun!