I’m a kinesiologist who has developed a 7-step process for unblocking blocked fallopian tubes, and helping women to get pregnant in the shortest time possible. I’ve had great success with my own private clients, and I’d like to share with you how I helped these women to get pregnant, and how you can overcome tubal infertility without surgery.

Step 1: Herbal Tampons & Herbal Douches

The key step in the process involves using herbal tampons to introduce a powerful herbal decoction to the reproductive organs and the fallopian tubes. The herbs in the tampons are designed to kill any infections left in the fallopian tubes, break up adhesions and scar tissues, and soothe swollen tissues.

The herbal tampons are used every night after menstruation and before ovulation, and the douche is used in the morning to cleanse the reproductive organs of any debris loosened up by the herbal tampons.

Step 2: Herbal Capsules For Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Step 2 involves taking a blend of herbs that strengthen the actions of the herbal tampons. This herbal blend is 100% organic, and is designed to help the immune system fight off infections that can block the tubes, as well as increase the fertility and boost the sex drive.

All of my clients who want to get pregnant with blocked fallopian tubes take herbal capsules 3 times a day, in addition to the herbal tampons.

Step 3: Chinese Fertility Massage

The fertility massage helps to open up the reproductive organs, as it can break up adhesions, soften scar tissue and improve the health of the fallopian tubes and uterus.

For best results, I ask my clients to perform this massage while wearing the herbal tampon.

Step 4: Fertility Yoga

The fertility yoga positions my clients practice help to overcome tubal fertility as they stretch the organs, and indirectly soften scar tissue. Some of the yoga positions are designed to increase the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the pituitary gland (which governs the reproductive hormones), while other positions help the reproductive organs.

To increase the effectiveness of the herbal tampons, my clients perform the yoga every morning, before taking the tampon out.

Step 5: Total Body Cleansing For Fertility

The body cleansing for fertility program helps the body to get rid of toxins that damage the fertility, or cause the reproductive organs to become inflamed or infected.

It includes a colon cleanse, liver cleanse, kidney cleanse, heavy metal cleanse, and a parasite cleanse. All of these cleanses support the liver in recycling old hormones and maintaining the balance of hormones, and they can prevent conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, and PID, which can affect the fertility.

Another benefit of the body cleanse is that it can double the effectiveness of any herbal remedy you take. This means you will shorten the time it takes you to get pregnant by approximately 50% – if you decide to carry out this important step.

Step 6: Stress Management & Relaxation

It’s important to manage your stress levels while trying to conceive, as stress can prevent you from getting pregnant. This is because when you’re stressed, you release a hormone called cortisol, which can affect the balance of other hormones in the body (such as estrogen and progesterone).

When you’re stressed, you’re more likely to experience spasms in the fallopian tubes, or any other part of the reproductive organs, which can prevent sperm from reaching the egg, or it can prevent successful implantation.

The fastest way to manage stress is by listening to an audio CD, which puts your brain into a relaxation state. Once the brain waves have slowed down, the body will relax and be more conducive to conception.

Step 7: Nutritional Optimization

One of the fastest ways to boost the fertility is by changing the diet. I find that my clients get the best results by increasing their intake of raw fruits and vegetables to 9 portions a day. Eating fruits and vegetables in their raw form helps you to access the nutrients in the foods, increases your intake of antioxidants and alkalizes the body.

Antioxidants can help reverse the effects of free radicals and make the reproductive organs younger and healthier. They have also been proven to improve egg quality. To get the maximum amount of antioxidants in your daily intake, I recommend mixing an antioxidant into your juice every morning.

Alkalizing foods help to neutralize excessively acidic cervical mucus, which can be very hostile to sperm, and prevent conception. These foods also support your detoxification, as they create an internal environment in which bacteria and viruses cannot survive. The best way to eat a large quantity of nutrient dense foods is with an alkaline mix, which an contain a number of superfood fruits and vegetables, and can be available in a form that can be added to juice, water or smoothies.

Since the accidental discovery of the first synthetic dye, mauve, made from coal by William Henry Perkins in 1856, the use of natural dyes begin to phase out. And why not? Synthetic dyes are more colour fast, have a wide spectrum of colours that can be easily and accurately reproduced, cost less and can impart qualities such as making the cloth wrinkle free or even having a permanent, fashionable crease. It does seem quite the novel invention but have you ever paused to think; just what you are wearing actually harms the environment?

Let us take a look at the ingredients used for manufacturing synthetic dye. Synthetic dye is usually made from aniline or chrome. While dyes made from aniline are less poisonous than aniline on its own, we need to think how aniline can impact not just the environment but the workers involved in the manufacturing process. Aniline’s level of toxicity is not known but it does disrupt the oxygen distribution process in the body. Are we going to let innocent workers become unsuspecting lab rats by exposing them to a known poisonous compound?

Chrome is easily found in the land, air and even water but is most attracted to the land. Once soil is contaminated with high levels of chrome, it stays there as chrome does not enter the water easily, therefore its molecules cannot move around once it is in the soil. It stays. Workers in industries which utilize chrome have been prone to nasal irritations and have a heightened chance to develop lung and respiratory cancer. Imagine having organic cotton dyed with synthetic dye that has endangered the health of people. That will completely ruin the concept of having an eco-friendly piece of cloth.

During the manufacturing process of such dyes, strong acids, alkalis and solvents are used along with certain heavy metals to get a particular compound. Besides posing a health hazard, it also generates a great amount of toxic waste. Plus, they usually need high temperatures to produce a certain compound. For example, creating a dye known as Mordant Blue 23 in the Color Index, part of its production includes combining a few ingredients with sulfur to produce Sulfur Trioxide (S2O3 )at a temperature of 1300C. It strains the environment because industries still depend on un-renewable energy sources such as petroleum and coal, especially since most dye mills are located in poorer regions of the world such as India and China. With a greater demand for synthetic dye, a greater carbon footprint will be left on our environment due to the depletion of coal and petroleum as well as the fumes emitted.

Even after the dye has been completed, there is wastage that gives a negative impact on the environment. For example, the grinding of materials or the dumping of dry, powdered materials; these actions can pollute the air, making it toxic to anyone who inhales it. Between each batch of materials processed, the equipment needs to be cleaned as well for quality control purposes and this uses a great deal of water. The water that is flushed from this process is not safe as it contains lots of chemicals such as the dye itself, remnants of dye intermediates (ingredients that kick start certain chemical processes) and minute solids. These are all highly toxic and till this day, not many companies treat this wastewater properly before disposing of it.

Due to the unavailability of an efficient waste disposal system, cases such as the Fuan textile factory in Guangdong which deals primarily with export textiles of brands such as Gap, Target and Walmart; dumped its dye waste into the Maozhou River, contaminating not just a direct water source but the underground water source as well. Underground water contamination lasts for many years which endanger the health of the current and future generation. This is just one of the many illegal cases of dye waste dumping in China; though it may be hard to fault the dye mills alone for doing so. American apparel companies which forms the largest customer base for China’s dye mills demand lower and lower prices and to keep up with demand, the waste water is not treated to cut costs.

Synthetic dye and various clothing finishes have also been known to be a trigger for clothing dermatitis, which is a skin condition resulting in an allergic reaction from synthetic dye or any additives in clothing. This is commonly present in heavy-set and or individuals who sweat easily and is normally concentrated in the armpits, groin and the waistband area. Natural fibres such as angora, cotton and linen have never caused this condition though treated or starched cotton can be a trigger.

Going for natural dyes

Why should you?

So, how do we choose clothes that are eco-friendly? The best choice would be to go for raw, undyed clothes but that might seem too drastic. We all need colours in our life. The other solution that can be taken would be to go for naturally dyed clothes. To be fair, natural dye does have its share of toxic affluents such as the mordants used. Yet, why is it we should go for natural dyes?

For practical reasons, natural dye would be the optimal choice as it greatly reduces the risk of skin allergies. As we constantly have clothes on a part of our body, our skin can absorb any poisonous components in the synthetic dye. These chemical compounds can irritate our skin, causing skin conditions such as eczema and clothing dermatitis.

Babies are extremely susceptible to environmental changes as they are still growing, causing their cells to be active enough to absorb any carcinogenic matter from the synthetic dyes in their clothes. With subsequent exposure to such substances, it increases their risk of developing health problems that can last a lifetime.

For aesthetic reasons, natural dyeing is a way of getting back in touch with the roots of your ancestors. Dyeing is an ancient art. In search for the most modern piece of technology, we still need a keepsake to remind us of our roots; and why not with naturally dyed clothes? Naturally dyed clothes have a dazzling variety of shades that not only look good but when they fade, they still look good as well. Any hand dyed product reigns far superior compared to its machine made counterpart because when something is made by hand, the maker would want that product to be his or her masterpiece. Besides, naturally dyed material is dyed in small batches which give various shades to the intended dyed colour. For example, dyeing a piece of cloth with natural red dye might make it crimson, vermilion, cochineal red or a pinkish red. This imparts a sense of exclusivity to a piece of naturally dyed clothing.

On the plus side, there is only one toxic factor to deal with, which is the excess mordanting liquid. But unlike the harmful toxic sludge that synthetic dye produces, most mordants are easily neutralized. With proper waste management and an awareness towards the conservation of our own environment, we will be able to reduce the damaging effects dyeing has on our environment and still wear colourful clothes as well.

There are challenges faced in the world of eco-friendly dyeing such as the availability of natural dye and naturally dyed products. However as consumers, we need to remember we are in charge of the market and not the other way round. With demand, there is supply. We are the ones who will make a difference. We need to show a high level of eco-friendly consumer awareness not only towards the product itself but also towards the entire manufacturing process. It may seem like an uphill struggle, but the ball is in our court to change the environment for the better. Starting by using naturally dyed clothes is beneficial not just for us but for the environment as well.

Following a series of tighter consumer protection laws, makers are emphasizing product safety while contending with the high cost of compliance.

Faced with stricter safety regulations in key export destinations, companies in China are allocating more resources to product testing and highlighting high-quality materials since the pressure these are placing on manufacturing outlay.

For most suppliers, adopting complicated and far-reaching directives is not the main challenge, but the high expenditure of compliance is.

Many of the new safety standards require makers to conduct more tests on a greater number of chemical substances. As a result, certification fees for some products have risen by as much as 50 percent, and even doubled in a few cases. CPSIA evaluation for toys, for example, can cost up to $ 1,000 per model depending on the complexity of the design.

The average toy company now spends $ 60,000 to $ 100,000 on examination fees every year. One of the largest toy makers in China pays more than $ 2.9 million annually on testing, much higher than the annual revenue of small suppliers.

Lamp specialist Heshan Mingkeda Industries Co. Ltd spends about $ 3,000 for SAA certification alone, which takes one or two months to acquire, according to the company's sales manager Mini Yip.

In many instances, fulfilling safety requirements revolving replacing materials with compliant substitutes.

Suppliers of food-grade products, for instance, have already stopped using BPA, an organic compound found in many plastics. In a range of consumer goods, further configurations include the shift from PVC to POE, and from PC to phthalate-free PES, glass and nontoxic silicone.

Battery makers are striving to develop or source safer anode and cathode materials. Some have begun to replace conventional lithium cobalt oxide formulation with lithium iron phosphate, an alternative with lower environmental impact. Other efforts are aimed at improving protection against overcharging, discharging and heating.

But in most instances, "safe" alternatives are costlier than the originals. 3P PVC for instance, is 30 percent more expensive than regular PVC but is 30 percent cheaper than 6P.

Similarly, A5-grade melamine goes for $ 2,200 per ton, three times as much as the same volume of the A1-grade variant at about $ 735.

In some cases, imported materials, which invariably cost more, are favored over domestic equivalents. Imported PP, for instance, is 20 to 30 percent higher than domestic versions, at $ 1,800 to $ 2,100 per ton. Overseas-sourced organic fabrics, likewise, are 20 to 30 percent more expensive than local variants.

Despite the high outlay, some companies prefer to source abroad for consistent quality. Foshan Geuwa Electric Appliance Co. Ltd sources 80 percent of materials and components for its blenders and juicers overseas, while the rest are purchased locally.

Beside higher raw material expenses, makers have to contend with increases in indirect costs, particularly those related with monitoring the supply chain to ensure that all manufacturing inputs meet specifications.

According to Tim Corrigan, president and CEO of the Quality Assurance Institute, "The root cause of the problem (of product quality) is control of the raw material, application contaminations and subfactories. calls for significant transparency, diligence and dedication. "

Generally, material vendors are able to offer third-party certification. But for those that can not do so, companies need to send their own QC staff to supervise the production at the material suppliers' factories.

More exporters are now limiting theirourcing to suppliers that can provide certified inputs. Still, collection and documentation of every component utilized requires time, effort and money.

In addition to testing and materials quality, manufacturers are also enhancing their in-house QC facilities.

Lai On Products (Industrial) Ltd, a Hong Kong-owned maker of crayons, modeling clay and paint has set up a microbiological laboratory at its factory in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Certified by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment, the lab is comparable to a chemical-testing facility. The supplier also sends its products to third-party agencies to ensure compliance with ASTM D-4236 and F963, Toxicological Risk Assessment, EN 71, CPSIA, California Proposal 65 and REACH requirements.

Some baby stroller factories are now equipped with wheel performance, dynamic durability and drop-testing facilities. At the same time, many stuffed toys and children's clothes makers are purchasing more needle detectors.

Any measure to comply with safety regulations unduly added to the cost of production. Suppliers estimate material and certification expenses have risen about 10 percent in recent months. Many companies try to absorb the additional expenditure, but this is not always feasible.

While investment in facilities can be recovered in the long term, the same can not be said about testing fees. When order quantities are low, as in the current environment, makers are often unable to recover money spent on certification of specific models. Shorter product life cycles due to fast-changing customer preferences also give manufacturers a rare time frame to recoup compliance outlay.

Some suppliers try to negotiate larger orders or ask buyers to shoulder the cost for certification. But clients are averse to both options in view of the current economic conditions.

Typically, tier 1 manufacturers are able to comply with regulations more seamlessly due mainly to their stable financial resources.

"Enterprises that cater to major OEM customers likewise have the easiest time adjusting to the new rules as they have better access to information," said Cody Wang, chemical testing deputy general manager at Intertek. "They are usually able to make the necessary changes months in advance of enforcement deadlines."

But for small and midsize factories that have less capital to invest in equipment and prohibitive testing fees, conformance can be a daunting task.

Testers can also be partners

The professional testing industry is booming amid the rising safety trend. With the increased need for product evaluation, the past few years have seen an influx and expansion of third-party laboratories in China, including SGS, TUV, BV, Morlab and Pony Test. These organizations also provide free training on the latest regulations, and inform companies on which merchandising needs testing and how.

Regulatory agencies in the US and the EU have likewise been active in helping suppliers get up to speed.

Workshops on the new EU Toy Safety Directive have been organized, with the support of the EU-China Trade Project and the Director-General for Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission.

In October 2009, the third CPSC-AQSIQ Summit was held in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. With a theme of "promoting best practices by Chinese manufacturers and US importers to maximize product safety", the summit was attended by CPSC chair Inez Tenenbaum.

In her keynote address, Tenenbaum reported that in fiscal year 2009, toy recalls went down to 40 from more than 80 in the prioring period. The information exchange between the CPSC and AQSIC about recalls of China-made goods was emphasized, as well as the need for frequent training sessions.

The AQSIQ has been educating China toy makers about safety requirements in the US and on strengthening quality controls. The CPSC has arranged to set up an office at the US embassy in Beijing to help promote compliance with US standards among local suppliers.

Local governments and trade organizations are also vigorously pushing companies to bolster the image of "made in China" products.

At the Canton Fair last fall, the Ministry of Commerce distributed export quality and safety manual to exhibitors.

Organizations such as the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade have been sponsoring seminars for business owners and local government officials on product safety in Southern China.

Regulations getting tougher

The safety bar that China suppliers must hurdle is getting higher by the year as new international and domestic standards are put into place.

In December 2009, the European Chemicals Agency announced the addition of 15 chemicals to its candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH. Among the inclusions were diisobutyl phthalate, a commonly used plasticizer, and lead chromate, a coloring agent.

REACH has wide-ranging impact in the EU as it requires disclosure of information on hazardous substances contained in every product. The directive is on top of specific regulations such as RoHS for electronic goods, EN 71 for toys, and Regulation 1905/2004 / EC for materials that come in contact with food.

For toy makers, the CPSIA / HR4040 in the US and the EU's New Toy Safety Directive or 2009/48 / EC amend existing rules substantively and impose greater restrictions on suspicious chemicals. The latter regulation limits 19 metallic elements. It also bans 55 fragrant substances and warns against a further 11 types.

Other baby and children's products and toys must pass the standards for EN 71, CE, WEEE and EMC in the EU, ASTM-F963, CPSIA, FDA and UL in the US, AS / NZS / ISO 8124 in Australia and New Zealand, and ST2002 in Japan.

Following the US and EU's lead, Japan, Australia and even Malaysia are modifying their existing toy safety regulations, particularly on flammability and the use of phthalates and lead.

Lithium battery exporters have to comply with UL1642 for cells and UL2054 or FCC for battery packs in addition to EMC and RoHS. Designs shipped by air are also obliged to undergo UN38.3 testing. In markets where FCC, UL and RoHS approval are not necessary, passing the UN38.3 is sufficient.

For products that come in contact with food, companies have to comply with assorted standards such as UL, CB, CE, GS, ETL, CCC, FDA and LFGB. Most EU countries recognize Germany's LFGB because of its stricter requirements.

Aside from international regulations, suppliers have to follow domestic guidelines for a number of goods.

Garment trimming makers, for example, need to comply with three sets of requirements for cords and drawstrings to be used in children's clothing. Issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and Standardization Administration, the GB / T 22702-2008, 22704-2008 and 22705-2008 are based on US 'ASTM F 1816-97 (2004), the UK's BS 7907 : 1997 and EN 14682: 2007, respectively.

In addition, some existing national standards for trimmings have been revised and now have provisions that monitor and prescribe allowable levels for harmful substances that are even lower than European regulations. The GB / T 17592, for example, keeps azo content at 20mg / kg whereas it is 30mg / kg in the EU's EN 14362.

Likewise, the China government issued a new standard for melamine-formaldehyde products used as food containers and packaging materials. This comes after several foreign markets banned low-end models due to potential chemical leaching.

The regulation seeks to ensure safety by prohibiting the use of urea formaldehyde resin as the main material. A1 and A3-grade melamine dinnerware pieces, which contain 70 to 90 percent of this substance, tend to melt at high temperatures and may cause a health hazard.

To ensure compliance with the safety code, the government has required suppliers to obtain a license from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine.

Like much traditional Chinese furniture screens have a very long history. The oldest existing screens date back to the 8th Century AD But Oriental screens were written about and depicted much earlier. The original use of screens was to place them behind an emperor's throne with weapon patterns on them to display the leader's might.

The most well known method used in making screens – "naciju" – involves applying multiple layers of lacquer. Lacquer originated as varnish resin derived from a tree indigenous to China, commonly known as the varnish tree. Masters applied up to 30 layers of lacquer and each layer had a unique gold leaf pattern. These lacquers produce very hard, durable finishes that are both beautiful and have a magical glowing finish

People believe that the knowledge of lacquer use spread from China to Korea and onto Japan, where it may have already been in use. Trade in lacquer objects started to spread to the middle East. Early products made with lacquer applied included, coffins, plates, musical instruments, furniture and ornaments. Due to the danger of VOCs included in some kinds of lacquer, recently craftsmen have been using water based colored lacquers. These lacquers are much less toxic and more environmentally friendly. Water based lacquers are used extensively in wood furniture finishing today.

Chinese screen depictions

The dragon is one of the most common animals to appear on screens. Nobility and royalties are represented by the dragon and as such it symbolizes masculinity, light, and growth. Dragons on the outer border of a screen point to prosperity, peace and happiness. Cranes are often featured in screen painting and symbolise longevity because of their long life span. They are also said to bear the souls of the departed to heaven. A pair of swans on a screen represent loving relationships, they too share the reputation of being able to travel between heaven and earth.

Screens as interior design

Particularly in open plan living the screen holds great value in giving depth, division, privacy, as well as aesthetic value. Screens are highly adjustable and mobile so they can adapt to any changes made in the interior decoration. They can break up the monotony of a plain wall with artistic beauty. Using a screen to divide a room enabling one to appreciate both decorated sides of the room divider.

Where a door leads directly into a room screens can create a division and a sense of privacy. Folding screens can act as a divider between living and dining areas, they can close off a kitchen or create a quiet area for reading. Screens can also be used to hide a less attractive feature of a room.

I want to share with anyone that might read this how much I enjoyed Tom Carter's new photography book "CHINA: Portrait of a People". I ordered the book because I recently returned from China and could not get enough of the life style I had just experienced. When I first received the book from Amazon I thought it was quite a unique size for a book of photography, but once I started looking at it I really enjoyed the small size in my hand; it made it easy to just sit on the couch with book in hand.

Carter's 640-page book is divided into 33 chapters, one for each province, and before each chapter are his recollections of his difficulties traveling to the regions as well as episodes where Chinese individuals (see "I, Shen Mei Li," page 134) are allowed to speak for themselves, as well as fragments of poetry and other otherwise Chinese related material, some gritty, some even grotesque.

With a country as big as China, there's a lot to see and Tom Carter provides a wide array of images and views – glimpses of a country on the cusp of a sweeping transformation: a great nation that still identifies as Communist while embracing new Capitalist ways . These photos then also provide historical artifacts as modernization plows away thousands of years of history.

Favorite images? Hard to pick since there are so many. The photo-illustrated journey starts at Beijing ('the epicenter of the "center of the world,' 'as Tom Carter trials) and concludes with Tibet (" Middle of nowhere, center of everywhere "). With more than 600 pages in between. (The images in this final section – Tibet – are among the most emotionally compelling and beautiful of the book.)

Of the places I'd like to go back and visit on account of Carter's book, top of the list would be Tibet and places like the Portuguese-influenced Macau, and of course Beijing ("Chaoyang"). Then: remote Heilongjiang ("Harbin"), Inner Mongolia (which is one of the most beautiful sections of the book), coastal Shandong (birthplace of Confucius), Jiangsu (with its sad and bloody history of Japanese invasion), Fujian, Guangdong ("Dapu"), of course Hong Kong (for its urban, multi-cultural diversity), Guangxi ("Zhongliu"), Guizhou ("Zengchong"), Anhui ("Mukeng Zhuhai," the Bamboo Sea where Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was shot), Hunan ("Zhangjiajie" and "Fenghaung"), Henan ("Song Shan" for its 800-year-old Shaolin temple and its ancient association with Kung Fu), Shaabxu ("Xi'an" for the Bingmayong ("Lijiang"), Gansu ("Hexi" and "Langmusi" for its Tibetan yet almost Peruvian-appearing culture), Sichuan ("Jiuzhaigou" and "Emei Shan")

China is an unavoidable nation in the 21st century. It is no longer simply a topic for adventure-seeking travelers or businessmen and diplomats. Even if you have never been to China or know little about it, it is affecting your life in ways large and small. And it will certainly only do so more in the years ahead. Here's Carter's China: Portrait Of A People is a fine place to start peeking behind the silk curtain at this fascinating country. And unlike a dry foreign affairs book, this book has the added bonus of teaching you about China while providing a feast for the eyes with its lush visual spectacle.

Freight forwarding companies in China are becoming increasingly bullish in the face of the worldwide financial crisis. Demand for China import across the globe has been a major factor over the last couple of decades and China’s exports have seen rapid growth. This has taken China to the position of being the world’s largest exporter in 2009. Despite a significant fall off in demand for China imports in 2008 and 2009 as the recession and credit squeeze has meant less disposable income for many consumers in key markets for China imports such as the United States and the UK, the outlook is reasonably positive as there now starts to be signs of recovery in China’s key export markets. It is therefore expected that China will be able to regain its position as world export leader and that the fortunes of the international freight market will recover in tandem.

Following an approximate 20% decline in volumes of China import goods being sent overseas by shipping companies in 2009, the market is expected to grow by around 10% in 2010, so this should reassure every shipping company and freight company that has struggled to maintain profitability during the economic slowdown. It will also help reassure the China government which has taken drastic steps over the last couple of years to try to protect the china import business, in the face of a drop off in factory orders, which in some places in China has resulted in factory closures and mounting unemployment, with the various social problems that can cause.

In Guangdong Province, there have been so many instances of factories closing without paying their employees that some other employees are resigning and demanding payment in advance of their employers going bankrupt.

The problems have been exacerbated by some American retailers delaying payment for their China import goods, some for example taking 120 days to pay instead of the usual 30 to 45. This means that their suppliers need to borrow the difference and for many, this has not been possible, so businesses have failed, with a knock on effect for businesses in the freight transport and freight services sectors.

Victor Fung, Chairman of the Li & Fung Group, the supply chain management group that connects factories in China with reailers in the United States and Europe seeking China imports, was quoted in 2009 as saying: “Trade finance is collapsing. We’ve got orders we can’t ship right now.’ It is clear to see that the impact of this has been significant on many international freight businesses, such as freight services and shipping companies.

During the downturn, logistics managers have often been able to negotiate significant discounts with shipping companies, as some ships have left China’s ports with significant capacity still available.

The downturn in demand for China imports has not been consistent across all sectors. Consumer electronics manufacturers have been amongst the hardest hit with a big decline in consumer demand for mini hi-fi systems.

To help offset the problems, the China government has introduced a raft of measures designed to help businesses survive the decline in demand. These have included directions to state banks to lend more money to small and medium sized exporters, support for letters of credit and a restoration of export tax rebates for the textile sector. In addition, there has been a halt to raising of the minimum wage, again to help employers weather the decline.

One of the factors that has adversely affected China imports is the number of trade remedy measures launched by other developed nations and the growth of trade protectionism.

However, with the robust actions taken by the Chinese government to try to minimise the impact of the economic slowdown and the slowly improving economies worldwide, the outlook for overseas trade is now looking more positive. This bodes well for the continued development and strength of freight transport and the international freight sector in China.

A red coral bracelet is fine and fashionable jewelry; wearing this bracelet has great help to the body. If you accidentally buy a fake one, then there will be some radiation that is bad for the body, so when selecting red coral bracelet, we must be careful, because now there are lots of fake bracelets in the market. Let us have a look at the characteristics, so as not to be cheated.

Red coral is formed by precipitates with a name of the sea coral skeleton. The shape likes tree, and its color resembles the fire. Red coral, gold, silver, pearls, agate, amber and glass are considered as the Buddhist Qibao, among which the most precious jewelry is red coral. coral lives in the deep ocean of 200 to 2,000 meters, and it will increase one inch in about 20 years and add one kilograms in 300 years, which was seen as the sea treasures. 80% of the whole red Coral yield is produced in Taiwan, enjoying the “national treasure” title.

First, the color range of red coral: AKA Red, MOMO red, ANGEL SKIN Pink, pink and white.

Second, detail features of red coral beads:

1. It is the only living jewellery, shiny, bright, warm, pleasant, crystal clear, enchanting.

2. There is a natural oblique transverse texture; every piece of coral is not the same.

3. There is a natural defect, such as white point, black specks and small spots, if so, it is normal, not defective products.

4. Wearing it on the body can promote blood circulation, and according to individual physical condition there will be a variety of different colors changes.

5. Coral jewelry can make blood active and improve eyesight, it is also auspicious symbol of wealth.

Third, simple method to identify red coral bracelet:

1. Longitudinal view: if you look it straightly, you will find that coral has parallel vertical lines, its direction likes the parallel coral cylinder.

2. Look it in parallel direction: a cross section of the coral like growth rings, with small and large. Some may be concentric circles, and generally can be seen on the coral ornaments.

3. see color: the color of coral is from the inside to out. Take coral columns as an example,, you will find the deeper color if the surface is closer.. That is to say, coral’s color is uneven, and if there is the same coral color inside and outside, we must suspect that there are false!

Fourth, several common factors about false red coral:

1. White coral staining: it is commonly known as the sea of bamboo, which is characterized by a very clear vertical grain and coarse texture.

2. Filled coral staining: a loose texture of shallow coral reef is filled in plastic way. Its characteristics are smooth, rough, fragile, and color is easy to transform.

3. Synthetic coral staining: a variety of shellfish and corals are making powdered rubber, plastic will be injected into the various shapes of coral, there is no natural texture.

4. All kinds of imitation jade, coral: stained stone is made of dolomite. Its characteristics: if you do not handled this stain properly, it will fade very fast.

5. Plastic dyeing coral: it is dyed by using plastic products. Its characteristics: very light texture, color is easy to fade, there is no natural texture and gloss.

Wholesale Furniture has traditionally been ordered from High Point, North Carolina in the United States up until about ten years ago. Normally a furniture store would go to the furniture trade show and select vendors with their best estimate of current styles and designs which their customers are going to request. Since the manufacturing base in North Carolina has been decimated by foreign competition, most notably from China but also in Brazil, Vietnam, India and Malaysia, the rules for purchasing wholesale furniture have changed. In order to make your furniture shopping life easier, I will explain the most direct route to purchasing items from overseas manufacturers.

If you have the ability to go to a notable furniture trade show in either Las Vegas or High Point, that is still your least travel intrusive way of locating foreign manufacturers. Most furniture manufacturers still travel across the ocean to the United States as even in times of recession we are still the largest consumers of almost all consumer items including furniture. Many trade shows cluster the participants around either the style of furniture they are representing, contemporary, classic, transitional, or the country the manufacturer is from. A few years ago at the house wares show in Chicago there was an entire hall just dedicated to Chinese manufacturers. If you go in mind to what type of wholesale furniture you are looking for, you can greatly reduce the amount of walking time you need to do at the furniture show.

The next best way to located overseas furniture manufacturers is to go to international shows if you have the budget and do not mind 15 hour flights. A few notable shows are the China International Furniture Expo in Guangdong, China and the IMM Cologne in Germany. When you go to any of the three shows mentioned you are going to find that a lot of the manufacturers are represented in all of the shows and there are only a few smaller manufactures showing. Smaller manufactures, sometimes the real hidden gems of the wholesale furniture shows, do not always show because their capacity is small and is usually pre-purchased either by local furniture stores or larger international furniture wholesalers.

If you are unable to attend any furniture shows, you can look online for reputable furniture wholesale companies. A local wholesale furniture company is going to charge a mark up for their services but what really is in the mark up is the cost of going to the shows and the storage of the furniture once purchased. For many small and large companies alike, purchasing from a US based furniture wholesale company is the best option for the least amount of effort and work.

This article is to introduce magicians and magic enthusiasts to the rich history of magic in Singapore. It honours the notable achievements, prominence and significance of local magicians from the past and present.

The beginning of Modern Magic in Singapore

It is the general consensus that modern magic in Singapore (post World War 2) began with the late-Ng Bo

Oen AKA The Great Wong. Information on local magic pre-war is very scarce. The only information found has been on The Great Wong performing at the New World Amusement Park (then located at Kitchener Road) in the 1930s.

The Great Wong was born in 1908 in Shanton, a city of the Guangdong Province, China and immigrated to Singapore in 1933. He was the only professional magician of his time in Singapore and performed across South East Asia. He was known for his sharp stage magic, Linking Rings routine and Sword Basket illusion. He was also an expert craftsman who built all of his props by hand. He had the gift of figuring out the mechanics and methodology of magic props and fabricating them from scratch.

In 1962, The Great Wong made a significant contribution to the international magic community by publishing his famous linking rings routine with English script written by Tudor Brock. Davenports Magic in London distributes his manuscript to date. In 1982, he was invited by the Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques (FISM) to perform at the 15th World Congree of Magic in Lausanne, Switzerland.

(For more info on The Great Wong; refer to ‘The Great Wong Story’ in The International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring 115 The Quantum Ring Golden Jubilee Issue)

Another local magician who was instrumental in growing modern magic in Singapore during the beginning was the late-Tan Hock Chuan. He was a teacher by profession but performed for annual special events, charity shows and private parties. He was (and still is) internationally known for his magical inventions. His effects and ideas are still marketed dealer items today and have been published in countless publications (of that time) such as Gen, Spinx, Pentagram, New Pentagram, Swami Mantra, Abracadabra and even Tarbell’s Course in Magic. He is the first Asian magician to receive the Spinx Award (1936-37)

Both The Great Wong and Tan Hock Chuan were important influences to many of the first generation of Singapore modern-magicians who have paved the way for future generations.

1950s

It was only after the war and during the British Military Administration that magic in Singapore began its rise to where it is today. 1950 was the year that the Singapore Magician’s Club was formed by a group of amateur magicians, comprising of English-educated professionals.

In 1951 the Singapore Magician’s Club received their charter from The International Brotherhood of Magicians HQ in America and was from then on was officially known as The International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring 115. Founding members of the club at that time included Tan Ewe Chee (President), Yeo Soon Kian, Lim Kim Tian, Lim Hap Hin, J.H Stafford, L.A Joseph, J.W Jackson (Vice-President) and Tan Hock Chuan (Secretary).

The 50’s gave birth to Singapore’s first generation of modern magicians. Besides the founding members of the IBM Ring and The Great Wong (who joined the Ring in 1952 by invitation), some prominent first generation magicians included Lim Hap Hin, Tan Choon Tee, Tan Bah Chee, Yeo Soon Kian and his student Michael Lim.

The Great Wong operated the first magic shop from his home cum showroom/ workshop in Singapore at 255-A Jalan Besar where he sold his own handcrafted props as well as imported dealer items from Japan. (This home/ shop was destroyed in a fire in Dec 1988 causing him to lose most of his books and props)

1960s

During this period, magicians like The Great Wong, Tan Bah Chee, Lim Hap Hin and Tan Choon Tee conducted magic courses at the National Theatre Club and the YMCA. They were responsible for producing active magicians such as Charles Choo, Wong Fok Choy, Chia Hearn Jiang, Gwee Thiam Hock and the late-Vijeyacone.

The early 60s also saw the ‘Golden Age’ of magic with magicians performing at different venues across the country. Besides local magicians performing in night clubs, foreign magicians such as Socar performed a grand illusion show to a full house at the Capitol Theatre (along Stamford Road) and The Great Nicholas at the Sky Theater in The Great World Amusement Park at Kim Seng Road (Now, Great World City).

In the late 60s, Wee Peng Guan (Uncle of Charles Choo), opened the second magic shop in Singapore at a shop house along Robinson Road. Around that time, popular entertainer Victor Khoo’s father Khoo Teng Heng who was a magician, a ventriloquist and hypnotist opened his magic shop at Bras Basah. (where Carlton Hotel stands currently).

During this decade, Tan Choon Tee was making a name for himself in the international magic community in the field of Mentalism. He won several international Linking Ring Awards for his One-Man Parades and has two books published by Micky Hades. He was also a regular contributor to numerous international magic magazines such as Gen, New Pentagram, Magicgram, Magicana and The Linking Ring.

Overseas magicians whom passed through Singapore included Milo & Roger, Milbourne Christopher and Maurice Fogel.

1970s

The 1970s saw the birth of the second generation of Singapore magicians. Some well-known magicians who got started during this time included; The Great Wong’s son Ng Kee Chee, John Teo, Tang Sai Thong, Ng Seow Kiat, Tang Yeng Fun, Bob Chua, Eric Leong, Tan Teck Seng, Lawrence Tham, Tan Tuan Seng, Lawrence Khong and Andrew Kong.

The Singapore Association of Magicians was founded on 10 March 1973 in friendly ‘rivalry’ to the IBM Ring. The club was led by Tan Bah Chee with prominent founding members such as Lim Hap Hin, Tan Hock Chuan and Charles Choo.

Magic shops in Singapore began to spring up during the late seventies. Ng Kee Chee set up a magic stall at Yaohan in Plaza Singapura and Wang Leng opened his shop in Peninsula Plaza. Charles Choo opened his shop in August 1978 on the 6th floor of Far East Shopping Centre. (It would move several times to various malls but eventually returned back to Far East). His shop would soon become an institution where magicians would buy various magic products as well as meet up and learn from each other.

It was a variety haunt for many magicians in the years to come till the shop closed in the new millennium.

During this period, The Tropicana Night Club, which was situated at Pacific Plaza, was a venue that had regular magic performances. Several famous magicians also visited Singapore in the 70s. In 1970, John Calvert performed at the National Theatre. In 1972, Albert Goshman visited Ring 115 to give a lecture. In that same year, “The Professor” Dai Vernon also visited Singapore, lectured and interacted with local magicians. Other visiting magicians included Andre Kole, Billy McComb, and Ali Bongo.

1980s

By the 1980s, the local magic scene was flourishing with healthy memberships for the two main magic clubs as well as a surge in the number of performing magicians. Many of today’s veterans made their name in the 80s. Familiar names like Richard Ang, Patrick Wan, Patrick Ng Wang Lin, Tan Hai Yan AKA Gician, Paul Koh, AB Francis and Gordon Koh were performing regularly at public and private shows during this decade. Popular local venues for public magic shows by magic clubs held on a regular basis at that time included the Drama Centre and the National Museum Theatrette.

The popularity of magic shops also grew and in 1982, Chew Kin Song opened a Magic & Novelty Corner at the Chinese Book Section of Popular Book Co Pte Ltd on the 4th Floor of Bras Basah Complex. Gician Tan also opened up his first magic shop at Parkway Parade which subsequently moved to Marina Square and was managed by Richard Ang. Besides this main shop, he distributed magic items and sets through department stores

in Singapore and South East Asia.The Singapore audience was also exposed to world-class magic through several magic television shows and series that were aired on local TV including the David Copperfield specials, Magic Magic and The Best of Magic.

Foreign magicians who visited Singapore during this time included David Copperfield, Mark Wilson, Ben Harris, Paul Daniels and Gene Anderson.

1990s

The beginning of this decade saw the introduction of the country’s third generation magicians into the local magic scene. Prominent budding magicians included Enrico Varella, Sherman Tjiong, J C Sum, Joe Yu (Chan Ee Kang), Nique Tan Li Keong, Prakash Puru, Kiki Tay, Alex Tan and Jeremy Pei.

The local chapter of International Magicians Society was formed, founded by its President, Tan Bah Chee; although the club’s presence in Singapore was short-lived.

The late-1990s saw a huge surge in magic global popularity due to David Blaine’s street magic specials. Many people started to ‘get into’ magic and had new mediums to learn the craft such as the introduction of DVDs and the Internet.

A new magic shop, Magic Castle & Promotions, opened up by Vijay Kumar at Shaw Towers soon became ‘the place to be’ where new magicians would hang out and meet.

During this decade, Wang Leng’s shop in Peninsula Plaza was sold to Patrick Wan. The shop was subsequently sold to Richard Ang and is now well known as Ang House of Magic. Patrick Wan opened his new shop, Magic Wand, which has spawned into several outlets in various parts of Singapore. Steven Sim also opened Magic Supreme at Coronation Plaza which has subsequently moved to Park Mall.

The 90s was an exciting decade with many visits and performances by famous magicians. Apart from lectures by Michael & Hannah Ammar, Mark Leveridge and Wolfgang & Sonja Riebe there were also public theatre performances by the Pendragons, Princess Tenko, Andre Kole, Franz Harary, David Copperfield, Rudy Coby and Robert Gallop. Other visiting magicians included Larry Becker, Tim Ellis, Terry Seabrooke, Phil Cass and Albert Tham.

2000 – Present

Magic has continued to flourish at the local level in this decade. New opportunities and talents have emerged to elevate the art in Singapore. In May 2000, J C Sum staged the first ever local full-evening theatre show ‘Magic at the Theatre’ at Victoria Theatre. Just a month later, more than a dozen magicians from the US and Canada came down to Singapore as part of the Magic Festival organized by the Malls of Centrepoint. Magicians such as Robert Baxt, Rocco and Peter Gossamer performed multiple shows at various Centrepoint Malls for over a week.

In 2004, the Singapore Magic Circle (SMC) was created by Aloysius Yeo and with its on-line forum drew a new pool of magic enthusiasts together. SMC has since grown to over 1000 members and regularly organize gatherings, events as well as the recent Concept:Magic Micro MAGIC Convention in January 2007.

Through a large-scale theatre magic musical ‘Magic of Love’, Lawrence Khong, a pastor with Faith Community Baptist Church and his daughter Pricilla, spread the gospel message.

The multi-million dollar production has been staged many times over the years across the world to spread the word of Christ. Subsequently, the same team organized two International Festival of Magic conventions in 2003 & 2005. The first of its kind big magic events included competitions, lectures, a dealers’ room and performances. International performers such as Jeff McBride, Max Maven, Johnny Thomspon, The Pendragons, Lee Eun Gyeol and Tommy Wonder were booked to perform at the gala shows and lectures.

In recent years, J C Sum has become arguably the most prominent Singapore magician of this generation. His magic has been seen by millions through his live performances across Asia as well as his landmark mass media projects on MediaCorp Studio’s Ch 8 as well as subsequent ‘Street Illusions’ compilation DVD/ VCD.

His 24-episode ‘Magic in Motion’ series can currently be seen daily on Singapore Press Holdings MediaBoxOffice through 2007. In the international magic community, J C has also established himself as an elite illusion designer from Asia with the publication of his 3 critically acclaimed illusion books that have been sold in more than 30 countries to date.

Another talented award-winning magician, Jeremy Pei, is raising the profile of Singapore magic within the regional magic community with his theatre shows, organized lectures, workshops and active participation in magic conventions & competitions in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand and Australia. His distinctive North-Asian influence style of magic performance has garnered him a following with new budding magicians whom he teaches and guides. He has also released multiple original magic products which are available to magicians worldwide.

In another first, award-winning junior magician, Kyle Ravin secured a 13-episode weekly Street Magic series, “Maya” on MediaCorp Studios’ Vasantham Central. This 30min series saw him perform magic for the Indian community and celebrities across the country.

This decade has seen the introduction of even more magic shops and dealers run by young magicians to meet the demand of magic enthusiasts and magicians. These include new ‘brick & mortar’ magic shops such as Street Magic by Tan Wei Ping, Tricky Business by Jimmy Wong, The Magic Hall by Kenneth Peh as well as on-line shops like The Little Magic Shop by Ning.

Visiting magicians thus far for the new millennium have included Joshua Jay, Shoot Ogawa, Charles Gucci, Nicholas Einhorn.

And the Magic History of Singapore continues to be written…

A Brief Introduction

The ancient art of the Chinese tea ceremony is known to be a ceremony of the highest esteem that a host can offer a guest. While the Chinese tea ceremony is remarkably simpler compared to the Japanese version, (the Japanese version tends to be more rigid and pays a lot of attention on the structure of the environment whereas the Chinese tea ceremony pays more attention on attaining the perfect brew) there are fixed steps to be followed as well.

Though there are many versions of the Chinese tea ceremony, the one that is considered the most sophisticated among all is the Gongfu tea ceremony. It is thought to originate from either Guangdong or Fujian. This tea ceremony suits oolong teas best and is occasionally used for pu’er tea as well. There are six factors to take into consideration when performing a tea ceremony:

1. Attitude

The host should be cheerful yet calm to create a relaxing ambiance.

2. Tea Selection

Besides having a great taste, shape and fragrance, it should have an elegant background (i.e. name and story) as well.

3. Water selection

Hard and distilled water should never be used to boil tea. Distilled water gives the tea a “flat” taste while hard water makes it taste bad. Optimally, clean and clear spring water should be used.

4. Tea ware selection

True, lacquered tea ware looks beautiful but the pots that brings out the best in fermented teas are the Yixing teapots, which do not glaze, remaining porous even after being fired in the kiln. One pot should be used to brew only one type of tea, as the pot absorbs some tea and the flavour of the tea will be enhanced as time goes by.

5. Ambience

The tea ceremony area must be clean and spacious enough to not feel cramped. Ideally, it should be quiet as well. Incense, music or artworks are sometimes used to enhance the environment, though it might not be necessary since a tea ceremony can be performed outdoors.

6. Technique

The host should have a graceful manner while performing the tea ceremony which can be seen through the hand movements and facial expressions.

This timeless ceremony blends the three teachings that have shaped China. The Buddhism’s Middle Way, the Confucian Golden Mean and the Taoism’s Way of the Tao. It requires one to have a calm demeanour, good ethics in aspects such as tea serving; and respectful interaction among one another. A tea ceremony fosters good relations among one another as well as bringing a sense of serenity by reminding mankind of their relationship with nature.

Process of a typical Gongfu Tea Ceremony

Items needed:

• Wen Xiang Bei – Narrow snifter cup used to appreciate the tea’s scent. Tea is not drunk from these cups.
• Pin Ming Bei – Chinese teacups.
• Cha Tuo- A small saucer for the teacup (sometimes smaller than what is pictured; being just enough to hold the teacup)
• Zi sha hu – A teapot made from the famed Yixing purple clay, known for its flavour absorbent properties.
• Cha pan – A water catching tray for the tea ceremony. A basin can be used as well.
• Gong dao bei – Tea from the teapot will be poured into this pitcher before serving to ensure an even taste.
• Cha dao zu – A set of utensils for measuring out tea leaves including tongs to pick up hot items.
• Cha he – A shallow dish that is used for appreciating the scent and appearance of tea.

The Process

Below are the steps in a typical Gongfu tea ceremony. Each step has a traditional four character name.

*Take note that the teapot’s spout should not be pointing at anyone at all times as this is considered rude.

1. Wen hu tang bei – “warm the pot and heat the cups”

Boiling water is poured into the teapot and then poured into the teacups. This is to ensure that the utensils are warmed and prepped for the tea savouring process, which enhances the tea’s fragrance.

2. Jian shang jia ming – “Appreciate excellent tea”

The tea is placed in the Cha He and passed around guests for it to be appreciated. The guests should complement the appearance and fragrance of the tea.

3. Wu Long Ru Gong – “The black dragon enters the palace”

The “black dragon” refers to the colour of Oolong tea, which is normally a dark burnt brown with subtle hues of other colours depending on the type of tea. The amount of tea needed depends on many factors such as type of tea and the size of the teapot but the amount of tea leaves used typically fills ½ to 2/3 of the pot. Put the leaves in the tea strainer if your pot does not have an inbuilt strainer.

4. Xuan Hu Gao Chong – “rinsing from an elevated pot”

Water heated in a kettle to the suitable brewing temperature for the tea is poured at roughly the height of the pourer’s shoulder to a slight overflow in the teapot to rinse the tea leaves.

The Chinese determine the right brewing temperature is determined by the size of the bubbles formed while boiling. They use creatures’ eyes as a guide; bubbles the size of fish eyes for black tea, crab eyes for oolong and prawn eyes for green tea. (Though green tea is not used in a Gongfu tea ceremony)

5. Chun Feng Fu Mian – “The spring wind brushes the surface”

Any froth or floating tea leaves are gently brushed away with the tea pot’s cover. This helps create a clear tea.

6. Chong Xi Xian Yan – “Bathing the immortal twice”

To ensure the temperature on the outside and inside of the pot remains the same, hot water is poured onto the covered teapot.This also helps to cure the clay in addition to creating a seal that ensures all the tea flavour remains in the pot. At this point, some will steep the tea for a short while (roughly 10-30 seconds) or pour out the tea immediately to the tea pitcher.

7. Hang Yun Liu Shui – “A row of clouds, running water”

This means that the first brew is not meant to be drunk. The tea is poured from the pitcher into the teacups.

8. Long Feng Cheng Xiang – “the dragon and phoenix in auspicious union”

The tea cups are placed upside down on top of the snifters and offered to the guests, a symbol of prosperity and happiness the host wishes upon the guests.

9. Li Yu Fan Shen – ‘the carp turns over’

The guest accepts both the cups and turns them 180°.

10. Jing Feng Xiang Ming – “Worship the fragrance”

The snifter is lifted from the tea cup. This tea is then emptied into a bowl or into the tea tray.

11.Hui xuan di zhen / Zai zhu qing xuan – “pouring again from a low height” / ‘direct again the pure spring’

Hot water is poured at a lower height from step 4, usually at a slightly higher height than the rim of the teapot. It follows a principle called Gao Chong Di Zhen – “high to rinse, low to pour”. Previously, pouring from a height creates a force to cleanse the leaves but water is now poured from a low height so that the flavour can be released slowly.

12. Gua Mo Lin Gai

The leaves are steeped at this point. Depending on the type of tea and preference of the tea ceremony master, it takes anywhere between 30 seconds to 10 minutes.

13.Guan Gong Xun Cheng – “Guan Gong patrols the city”

The teacups are arranged in a row and poured into the tea snifters. This is done while moving the hand left and right gracefully. Guan Gong is a famous military general in the Three Kingdoms period. This move is akin to him marching up and down to guard the city.

14. Han Xin Dian Bing- “Han Xin calls the soldiers”

The last drops are poured in an elegant movement. This move is likened to Han Xin, a famous Han general commanding his soldiers to fight.

15. Ou Bei Mu Lin- “bathing the snifter cup”

The entire contents of the teapot is poured into the tea pitcher and poured into the snifters. A teacup is placed upside down on top like step 7.

16. You Shan Wan Shui – “walk in the mountains and play in the river”

Any remaining water in the teapot is emptied into the basin or tea tray.

17. Long Feng Cheng Xiang- “The dragon and phoenix in auspicious union”

Another prayer for the guests’ happiness and health is offered with the offering of the snifter cup with an inverted teacup on top of it. This is the same as step 8.

18. Li Yu Fan Shen – “the carp turns over”

The guest accepts both the cups and turns those 180°.

19. Jing Feng Xiang Ming – “respectfully receive the fragrant tea”

At this point, the guest will lift up the snifter cup and let the tea flow into the teacup. The lingering aroma of the tea in the snifter is to be smelt and savoured by the guest before drinking the tea.

20. This step involves the etiquette to drink the tea. The teacup is either picked up with the finger pads of both hands or with the thumb and index finger using the middle finger to support the teacup. The latter method is used as well when a cha tuo is involved. The tea should be drunk in 3 sips; the first sip is for taste; letting it settle on your tongue and to appreciate the complexity of the tea flavour, reminiscent of a wine tasting technique; the second sip, is a bigger sip, also known as the main sip and the final sip is to empty the cup and to take in the aftertaste.

21. The same tea leaves can be brewed for a few times until they no longer yield the same flavour. With each subsequent brew, the tea should be left to steep for a longer time. The leaves will be taken out of the teapot with tongs and put into a basin to be shown to the guests. The guests should complement the tea’s quality. With this, the tea ceremony is done.