Coffee

..is a beverage that I can take, but seldom drink. While having no addiction to it is the main reason, drinking it may occasionally cause palpitation or insomnia, especially during conscious or subconscious stressful times.

Read some interesting facts about coffee in a small booklet from TCC:

Chocolate was first added to coffee by the Europeans in the 1600's.

Kopi Luwak - the world's most expensive coffee, are harvested from partially-digested beans excreted from the Asian Palm Civet that gorge on ripe coffee berries.

Dark roasted coffees actually have less caffeine! As the longer a coffee is being roasted, the more caffeine burns off during the process.

The English word "Coffee" comes from the Latin name of the genus Coffea.

The average cup of coffee contains more than 1000 different chemcial components, none of which is tasted in isolation but only as part of the overall flavour.

A coffee tree has a lifespan of about 50 to 70 years.

Coffee is grown commercially in over forty-five countries throughout the world.

You can even read your fortune by drinking coffee! ;) Try out "Coffee grounds reading" - also referred to as Tasseography or Tasseomancy (kafemandeia in Greek):

1. Enjoy a cup of coffee to the fullest, leaving behind only a small amount not consumed.
2. Think intently about a question you have.
3. Pur the remaining coffee onto the saucer, turning your cup clockwise three times as you do so.
4. Now look into your cup and examine the coffee grounds that remain.
5. Read with an open mind. What do you see?

(I think the above can only be done with hot coffee served in cup and saucer)

Some symbols are listed here for your cuppa of fortune, while the rest is up to your imagination.

Arrow - If it points up, the answer is 'Yes'; if it is pointing sideways, the anwer is 'Maybe'; if it points down, the answer is 'No'.

Bugs (as in lady bird kinda bug) - A warning sign to be cautious of your actions.

Butterfly - A sign that probably happiness is nearing.

Coins - Maybe wealth is on the way!

Clouds - Creativity and new ideas are forming.

Drums - Success is yours for the taking!

Fork - Be prepared for conflicts ahead.

Hat - Secrets are being kept.

Horseshoe - Luck is on your side.

Key - To achieve your dreams.

Lips - Romance is in the air.

Numbers - Important dates or numbers that will surface soon.

Ship - Major changes lie ahead.

~ content extracted from tcc booklet

Good wishes to you..

..a friend who is extremely courageous
..a friend who is knowledgable
..a friend who is a drama serie queen :)
..a friend who reads extremely lot
..a mate whom we only had the chance to exchange some experiences on the last day of Vipassana course and have befriended since then
..a friend whom we don't communicate much and yet understand each other quite well
..to you, Pei Chin, for your new adventure in Shanghai.