THIRSTY THURSDAYS

We returned to Bangkok on Sunday morning, after a wonderful week exploring the French Riveria. It's good to be home, but I'm having major withdrawal from the endless walking, glasses of crisp rose and fresh, cool evenings.

More on Nice shortly. For now, here are a few links for your viewing pleasure this week...

The sweetest, juiciest strawberries were available everywhere in Nice last week. I would have loved to try a few of these variations on fresh strawberries and cream.

Could The Game of Thrones be an allegory for climate change?

Are you pro- or anti-clutter? I just started reading this recently hyped book and can't help feeling inspired.

A fascinating article on bibliotherapy in which the author perfectly articulates my feelings about reading: "In a secular age, I suspect that reading fiction is one of the few remaining paths to transcendence, that elusive state in which the distance between the self and the universe shrinks."

THIRSTY THURSDAYS

Here's the weekly roundup of links that caught my eye this week -

How beautiful are these double-exposure photos of animals in their natural habitat?

According to the UN, every year, one-third of all food produced for human consumption globally is lost or wasted. Instead of pitching those kitchen scraps or leftovers, take a cue from these guys and get creative.

Great to see that the film industry is beginning to address the environmental impact of film production through the new Film4Climate initiative, launched at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

For those of you in Bangkok this weekend, the Siam Green Sky urban agriculture learning center opens tomorrow. There will be several events over the weekend to celebrate the opening, including an eco-friendly market, guest speakers and workshops. Sounds like something worth braving the heat for!

(Photo above by Andreas Lie, courtesy of the Mother Nature Network)

THIRSTY THURSDAYS

Some interesting links I happened across this week...

Check out how solar power is helping relief and recovery efforts in Nepal.

Mark Bittman on America's toxic food system.

Did you know that a single pair of leather shoes takes over 2,000 gallons of water to produce? Here are other everyday items that require surprisingly large amounts of water to produce.

Why is it so hard to throw things away? This journalist tests out Marie Kondo's de-cluttering manifesto.

That's all for today. Happy Thursday!

THIRSTY THURSDAYS

A few links that caught my eye this week:

Would you ever consider trying cheese produced without cows and meat-free burgers made with plant "blood"?

It's not bio-engineered, but I would recommend this light, delicious fish-free "tuna" salad.

In addition to the water we consume for household needs, we also use water indirectly through the products we purchase - food, clothes, technology. A single cotton t-shirt takes over 700 gallons of water to produce! If you're curious to know what your water footprint is, calculate it here.

How cool does this organic farm and sustainable lifestyle center in Northern Thailand look?

Also, a quick note that the relief efforts in Nepal still need your support even though mass media has started to move on. This is a critical period to deliver food, water and shelter; prevent public health emergencies; and support vulnerable populations, such as children, who may be displaced and need to be reconnected with their families. Here is a list of international organizations accepting donations for relief efforts in Nepal. There is also Plan International, which focuses primarily on helping children in post-disaster situations, and the America Nepal Medical Foundation's Relief Fund.

That's all for this week. Cheers!

THIRSTY THURSDAYS

... Thirsty for knowledge, that is!

Some links from around the interwebs for your reading pleasure -

Curious about what "eating antipodean" means? Check out these culinary adventures trying dishes from the other side of the globe (including my attempts at making Ecuadorian food in Bangkok!) in "Around the World in 18 Plates".

With temperatures soaring these last couple weeks, I haven't had much energy to cook or eat elaborately but this muhammara (walnut and red pepper spread) recipe looks easy enough to attempt for a light dinner with a glass of nice, crisp rose. 

The BBC's Your Life on Earth will tell you how the world has changed since you were born. Since I was born 28 years ago, over 2.2 billion people have joined this planet, the number of endangered plant species has doubled and sea levels have risen eight cm. It's not all dire straights though! Apparently all sorts of creatures like the Siamese crocodile and the black rhino were rediscovered and saved from extinction and carbon intensity has decreased by 13%. 

It turns out that being boring may be the way to go when it comes to climate change documentaries.

If you're stuck in the Big Mango this weekend, but want a change of scenery, head to the BACC and check out the Pakbara Paradiso exhibit of stunning photos highlighting the way of life under threat by the construction of the Pak Bara deep sea port. Featuring talks, performance art and music from this Friday - Sunday only.

All for now. Stay (knowledge) thirsty, my friends!

(Photo taken by Noppasin Sukswasdi, featured in Pakbara Paradiso)