| As usual for every year, the IBE (International Beauty Expo), organized by Elite Expo has returned for its annual event at KL Convention Center, this time starting on the 22nd of May and ending on the 15th of May.
It wasn’t hard finding the venue, with posters and banners featuring the event or its sponsoring participants’ service and products all over the hall, leading to the entrance piece by piece. However, one could admit that the event for this year is indeed better than last year’s, with more well-known speakers, as well as more overseas participants and services or products available. |
Health enthusiasts would be happy to find that there is a section of the exhibition entirely dedicated to exhibitors from Singapore—which is quite well-known for all-natural or organic health and beauty products at affordable prices. One booth giving out samples of brown rice tea and multigrain porridge seemed to be quite the hit for visitors of all age groups, and others are faring equally well too. Women’s sexual health is also another focus in this event, as we have a few new participating booths offering healthcare services and products related to female personal hygiene and supplements.
The seminars are another sure-hit, especially for all the girls and women. Saturday’s seminar had renowned make-up artist and stylist Mr. Kevin (known as 凯文老师 or 小凯老师) demonstrated his skills as well as explaining the fine points to the audience. At the end of the seminar, an autograph session was also arranged for eager fans as well as the audience while the upcoming photography session made sure that the fans will stay around longer to have a shot with their idol. Aside from Mr. Kevin, there are a few other famous names too, such as Judy Lin and Lee Chung Yuan, both who are well-known in Taiwan.
Other events held during the 4-days include the International Nail Art Competition, one which saw the attendance of several internationally-renowned nail care and beauty specialist as honorable judges as a wide range of talented participants, such as students from styling academies and art colleges, or make-up-artists-in-trainings gave their best for the contest. Audience who missed the actual event is able to get a glimpse of the nominees’ masterpieces from the photographs displayed.
Even when it was coming to an end, there is still a huge crowd around the hall, snatching up last minute bargains before the closing. With all the quality products and services available at bargain prices, it is indeed one of the best opportunities for brides to be to get some fashion tips, healthcare tips and also beauty care tips, all under one roof.
During the wedding, the bride and the groom are the most important people, and especially in Western weddings, the mother of the bride usually is involve with the majority of the pre-wedding preparations and planning. So, what about the groom’s mother?
The role of the Groom’s Mother
There is an old saying (in traditional Western Weddings) on what the mother of the groom should do—Show up, Shut up and Wear beige. However, in an actual marriage, especially in today’s society where the bride herself is also working, some help from the groom’s mother is most welcomed. And let us not forget that she has her role to play as well, according to the etiquettes of a proper wedding ceremony.
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The first rule of etiquette after the news of the wedding is to initial contact between families. The groom’s mother will most likely be the first person responsible in representing the groom’s side of the family. It can be organized as a brief social gathering or an extravagant dinner, depending on family, social and financial background plus individual preference. |
The same applies for a traditional Chinese, where for the initial ‘Betrothal’ ceremony, it is the groom’s mother who will be the representative sending and receiving the gifts to and fro the bride’s family. In other ceremonies, including the most important ceremony—the Tea-serving ceremony, the mother of the groom is one of the VIPs that must be present.
| For her part in helping the couple, as in most contemporary weddings, the groom’s mother’s role might be similar to the bride’s mother’s –sending out invitations to guests (the groom’s side usually), footing half of the bill for the banquet dinner, hosting the rehearsal dinner (the dinner held on the night before the actual wedding day) and such.
In the wedding ceremony itself, the mother of the groom will be the one to lit the family candles at the altar, together with the mother of the bride. At the reception, she is also required to stand in the receiving line, greeting guests and introducing family members and friends to each side of the family. It is important that the groom’s mother discuss with the Maid of Honor regarding each other’s responsibilities, so as to efficiently coordinate with each other while avoiding any unnecessary clashes. |
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What to Wear
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The traditional ‘Wear beige’ doesn’t apply for most contemporary weddings now, and certainly not Chinese weddings. Nevertheless, the groom’s mother should be dressed as the occasion required, as well as in complimentary to the bride’s mother. Thus, if the bride’s mother wears a long gown, the groom’s mother is expected to dress in similar elegance as well, and her dress must not clash with the bride’s or the bridesmaids’ as well.
In Chinese weddings though, this rule is not actually observed, but both mothers of the groom and bride are expected to dress their best for the occasion; usually in cheongsam, or in attire that best represent them as the elder representative or matriarch of the family. |
润 泽的新绿晴空下，热恋中的人们向挪威森林的深处去，风中晃动的树影，树木的深褐，花朵的明黄，叶间的流翠，还有干枯的殷红，依然眷恋着枝头的温存——绿色 爱情蜜月挪威！！
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蜜月指 数：★★★★★
推荐理由：享受挪威森林中的静美与和谐，倘徉在沉静的湖畔，细诉着彼此的爱恋。 最佳时节： 一年四季皆适合旅游 温情提示：挪威人十分友好、好客。也许会邀请你到他家中做客，应带酒或给女讧人送一束鲜花或些许礼品。挪威 人认为谈话叶保持1.2米的距离是最佳的习惯距离、否则会被看作不礼貌，也会冲淡谈话气氛 |
被称为“万岛之国”的挪威，南北狭长，异常曲折的海岸线早就了15万个沿海岛屿，冰河遗迹构成的 峡湾风光时挪威美的精髓，是冰心中的火热，冷漠后的狂野之美。挪威境内多山，一半以上都是海拔高于500米的山地。斯堪的纳维 亚山脉纵观全境，山脉最南端的分水岭被称为“长岭”，是平均海拔在1000 米以上的高原地区。长岭以北的山脉在松恩峡湾里端 达到顶峰，挪威的最高峰，海拔2467米的加尔赫峰就在这一地区。
挪威三面 环海，自北沿西向南依次是巴伦支海，挪威海和北海。由于境内多峡湾，使得挪威的海岸线曲线长达21000公 里。海的寂寞有不可言传的自然的和谐，静伏中埋藏着无限的创造。乘坐游轮去靠近这篇深沉的海吧。
奥斯陆的码 头
挪威首都奥斯陆，位于挪威东南奥斯陆湾的北端，环山面海，空气湿润，气候适宜，是全国最大的城市，也是政 治，经济和文化中心。 奥斯陆一直是挪威最大的国际港口。奥斯陆城市面积的75%为森林和绿地，人均 绿化面积居欧洲各国首都之首。
奥斯陆由挪威国王哈拉尔三世始建于1048年， 现已有950多年的历史。1624年城市毁于大火后重建，改名为克里斯蒂安尼亚，1925年 恢复原名——奥斯陆。站在高处观看，奥斯陆被大海与林海紧紧包围，森林一望无际，林中的大小湖泊镶嵌在半山腰中，真是美丽 至极。
| 奥斯陆市内没 有林立的摩天大楼，街道两旁的楼房大多只有六七层高，行人稀少，如果浏览累了，可以在街角坐下来，细细咀嚼沉淀在 建筑和古迹中的刚强与真心。王宫建在市中心，宫前有国王卡尔·约翰的铜像，周围的王宫花园树高林密，草茂花香，清静幽雅。港口福建的市政厅更像一座古代城 堡。阿克斯教堂建于12世纪，阿克斯胡斯城堡建于13世纪。着名的奥斯陆大学建于1811年。 建于1899年的国家剧院门前竖立着世界驰名的剧作家易卜生的雕像。 |  |
若是恰 逢奥斯陆的滑雪期，城西的山坡上有一个大的跳雪台，每年都有比赛，观众多达10万。漫步在奥斯陆大街上，随时都会遇见一些扛着 滑雪板的青年男女，儿童们正在小巷里玩雪橇。在这个童话般的冰雪王国里，紧紧拉着恋人的手，与她一起迎风起舞，随雪飞扬，像那在半空中的雪花，飞舞着今生 的爱恋。
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奥维格兰公园：奥维格兰公园是一座雕像公园，为奥斯陆最大的弗洛格纳公园中的“园中之园”。1924年 始建，历时19年建成。全部作品均有挪威雕塑家古斯塔夫·维格兰创 作。故公园以他的名字命名。占地80公顷， 全场有850米，是世界上最大的雕塑公园，分为“生命之桥”，“生命之泉”，“生命之柱”，“生命之环”四部分。共有192座 雕像和650个浮雕，是维格兰花了19年时间完成的。作品多为裸体，用石、铜制成，雕像展示了人从 出生到死亡的各个时期的情况，男女老少栩栩如生，喜怒哀乐淋漓尽 致，人生百态表露无遗，给人们许多人生的启示，因而又被称为“人生旅途公园”。 |
蜜月锦囊：
| 挪威有四通 八达的公车系统，长途巴士坐起来相当舒适，以距离长短算票价，平均每100公里15欧元。
住宿：挪威 境内有一百多家青年旅馆，有些是全年无休，设备相当舒适的旅馆。费用70~175欧元不等。可以在旅客服务中心索取住宿手 册，或是在各旅馆索取《挪威青年旅馆指南》的册子。 美食：起士，熏鲑鱼，烧烤驯鹿肉或雷鸟，维京料理， 三文鱼。 语言：官方语言挪威语，拉普兰语，芬兰语，英语通行。 |
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