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Japanese Snack Food You Can Make At Home
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Belinda_Jillie]Belinda Jillie

Many Americans are fascinated by Japanese culture. We've found a lot to love about the Japanese culture, especially when it comes to the food. If you want a Japanese flair for your party or you just want a nice Japanese snack for yourself, here are some ideas.

Yakitori - This popular snack food is a kabob, especially good for parties or casual dinners. It also complements Saki and Japanese beer.

To start with, soak your wooden skewers in water so that they won't burn.

Ingredients: - 3 chicken breasts divided into bite sized chunks - 1 tsp sugar - 2 tbsp sake - 3 tbsp mirin - 3 tbsp soy sauce

Pierce and slide the chicken onto the soaked skewers. Stir up all the other ingredients in a bowl. Now grill the chicken on the skewer, basting it with a sauce.

Edamame - It's finally gotten easier to find edamame in the grocery stores now that Americans have taken a shine to this popular Japanese snack food.

It's easy to serve. You can have it out like a bowl of pretzels (complete with beer for football games), or toss it in a bag as if it were trail mix at eat it on the go. It's a good way to get kids to eat more vegetables. (But be careful if you're allergic to soy!)

To prepare your edamame, wash it thoroughly. Then, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add one tablespoon of salt to the water, then add the edamame. Boil for three to four minutes. Drain, then add a little more salt. Let it cool, then store it in an airtight container.

Sunonomo (cucumber and Daikon salad) - This is an excellent side for just about any meal, though it's also great by itself as a refreshing afternoon snack.

What you need: - 1 daikan radish - 1 cucumber - 5 tbsp rice vinegar - 2 tbsp sugar - 1 tsp salt

First peel the radish, then slice it thinly. Cut the cucumber into equally thing slices.

Cover both vegetables in salt and leave them alone for about ten minutes, letting the salt soak in. Wash the slices and then drain them completely. Mix together the sugar and vinegar, then pour the mixture over the vegetables. Let this sit for 15 minutes or so before serving.

You shouldn't have too much trouble finding Japanese snack foods, because the last few years have seen an expansion in Asian sections in grocery stores. Not to mention there are more Asian specialty stores than there used to be.

Make sure to visit our [http://www.snackrecipes.net/]Snack Recipes site for more great [http://www.snackrecipes.net/snacks-for-kids.html]snacks for kids and even [http://www.snackrecipes.net/party-snacks.html]party snacks your guests will love.

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Extended Stay Hotels - Shouldn't You Feel At Home?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Robert_Knechtel]Robert Knechtel

In recent years, what once was an inconsequential niche among hotels in the United States, has reportedly become the fastest growing segment in the hotel industry, occupied by some of the major hotel players.  Generally, this sector is referred to as extended stay hotels, and, indeed, the largest of these chains goes by the name, Extended Stay America.  It operates over 680 facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

A facet of this phenomenon is the opportunity spawned by rapid expansion and migration of businesses to sprawling office parks in suburban locales.  Currently there are some thirty chains and approximately 250,000 extended stay hotel rooms in North America.  That’s growing at roughly 5% annually.  It’s not uncommon for businesses considering a move to take into account the presence of one or more of these facilities at or near its prospective new location.

Extended stay hotels have arisen to cater primarily to the requirements of business travelers who spend a week to say, a month, away from home.  They are ideal, as well, for people (families) who are relocating and vendors or professional people in town for several days working with a client.

What distinguishes extended stay hotels from traditional hotels is that they offer greater living space, sometimes with two bedrooms.  Typically, they will include a separate workspace, along with a completely equipped kitchen, including a refrigerator, microwave oven, sink and occasionally a stove and dishwasher.  Laundry and dry cleaning facilities are provided on the premises and many have convenience stores and grocery shopping.  Obviously, there will be cable TV and usually a DVD player.  A number are even pet friendly.

In support of business travelers, there are in-room, high speed internet connections (often wi-fi), meeting rooms, faxes, copy machines and other business equipment.

Extended Stay America, the largest player, is not allied with any of the major hotel chains.  The latter, however have jumped on the bandwagon in a big way.

Basically, extended stay hotels fall within three levels of accommodations, upscale, mid-range and economy.  The upscale category, by and large, has been occupied by a few of the majors -- Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and Intercontinental.  Marriott, by a considerable margin, outnumbers the competition with Marriott Residence Inns.  Hilton operates Homewood Suites, Hyatt offers Summerfield Suites, acquired from Wyndham, and Intercontinental weighs in with Staybridge Suites.

Among mid-range extended stay hotels, you’ll again find Marriott, operating TownPlace Suites, Intercontinental under Candlewood Suites and Hyatt with Hawthorn Suites.

The big hotel chains appear to be bypassing the economy niche.  Extended Stay America dominates this segment and there are several recognizable chains such as InTown Suites, Suburban and Crossland.

If your tastes run to the more lavish, you probably can do no better than Marriott’s bi-level penthouse suites with fireplaces at its Residence Inns.  Hmm… Just like home!  The point is that there appears to be a growing demand for more well appointed, longer term lodging.

Should your predilections not be quite so lofty, one of the features you or your business will appreciate is that room rates are generally more modest than traditional hotels.  Bear in mind, though, that just as with conventional lodging, there is often a clear connection between price and quality.  All offer weekly rates representing discounts.

If you’re planning to be away from home for a week or more, why not book one of the extended stay hotels?  Shouldn’t you feel at home?

Robert G. Knechtel operates several websites, including [http://www.hotelchronicle.com/]Much About Hotels – HotelChronicle.Com.

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Korean Folk Songs
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jennie_Gandhi]Jennie Gandhi

The music of Korea is over 1000 years old. Isang Yun - a musician teaching in Berlin included Korean songs in his course which was later brought back to Korea. Like all other strong influences, war definitely had its impact on Korean music. Korean music is mostly influenced by shamanistic and Buddhist thoughts. The dance, drum and the sinawi dance music is clearly evident in folk music.

The Dongbu folk songs are unique in various areas and are typical about the styles. The songs from the Jeolla and chungcheong area are known as Namdo folk songs. They are full of drama and the collections are tasteful. The Pansori and the Sanjo were created out of Namdo music. The music of Jeju from Jeju Island is simple and rich in their compositions. The Pansori is actually a one man show which involves dialogues, enactment, dance and a drummer assists with the rhythm for the singer. The Pansori is done at a stretch for eight hours. It is actually required to make the voice hoarse by shouting, so as to become a Pansori singer. The props include a handkerchief and fan.

A troupe of thirty musicians performs the Nongak. The Sanjo is a tempo based playing which accelerates and moves to a high tempo. The musical instruments of Korea include Kayagum which can be played in the solo style, duet and as a group of three. The instrument has to be placed on the lap with the tail on the ground level. Tanso is the wind instrument and played along with the flute. The original bamboo of Tanso is now replaced by resin. The sound produced is pure melody. Yanggum is made of bamboo and is a string instrument almost as big as a piano. The fourteen keys which is now increased to the count of twenty six keys. Most of the string instruments of Korea in the contemporary folk times are made of silken threads.

There are bowed, plucked and struck varieties in the folk string instruments that encompass the Geum, Bipa, Sohaegeum and Yangguem. There are flutes, horns and oboes and mouth organs and also the jeok, so, Hwa, Dae piri and Nagak in the wind instrument folk variety. There are other chimes, gongs and cymbals of various varieties in the percussion musical instruments. Folk songs are still evident in the villages. Rituals, ceremonies and festivals mark the occasion with traditional Korean folk's songs. Though a evolution is also seen in the making of musical instruments, traditional Korean folk songs bring pure melody.

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