CNNGo- Alive Not Dead Halloween Contest

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Views of/from Tokyo's Rikugien and Kiyosumi Gardens (Photo-essay)

What with the weather being so pleasant (and the skies generally so wonderfully bright blue) for much of the time during my most recent Japan vacation, I couldn't help but want to spend a large part of it outdoors. Thus it was that on day five of my recent Japan sojourn, I ended up visiting not one but two Japanese stroll gardens: one of which -- the Rikugien Gardens in Komagome -- was
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'One panda is worth 10 of our lives'

There are about 20 zoos around the world where you can see the giant panda in captivity. But where’s the fun in that? 

Animal lovers can find pandas in their natural habitat in the protected Caopo Nature Reserve, just over a mountain pass from the better-known Wolong Panda Reserve in Sichuan province, China. 

There are only a few hundred pandas left in the wild and chances of seeing them are slim. Pandas are skittish and they flee when they sense humans or other potential predators.

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Blogger stuck at Taiwan airport survives on soy sauce and wasabi

The Japanese traveler who has been stuck in a Taiwanese airport for more than a month -- mimicking the hit movie "The Terminal," which starred Tom Hanks -- is finally going home.

Former reporter and restaurant worker Masaaki Tanaka became stranded at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on September 7 after running out of money. Things got so desperate for the 42-year-old that at one point he was forced to survive on water and packets of soy sauce and wasabi.

Now, thanks to generous donations, Tanaka is due to return home to Japan next week.

Tanaka, who identifies himself online as ZhongZheng, has been blogging about his life in the airport.

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Earthy Tone

One of my favorite tone for this period of time, not going to use season since there I don't get the autumn feeling in Hong Kong.

So here comes one of the worst period of the semester, when deadlines and mid terms are all suddenly coming towards your way. Can't say I didn't see that coming, but I'm just not yet prepared for it. Sucks to have such a short semester.

Pulled an all-nighter and crashed after today's class. Recouped the hours of sleep for yesterday and now, waiting for my bestie to bring me sushi for dinner. Weather here has been perfect so far, the best time to just lay on the grass and do nothing, swim, or even sit outside the cafe and chill with my friends.  But no, time doesn't allow me to do so. I've been stuck in the library for most of the time, missing out on all the sunshine. Sunshine no kiss my skin, I depressed; so much for being a sun person.

Top: Taiwan

Shorts: Cotton On

Sandals: Rabbit

Watch: Casio

Bag: Pull & Bear

Headband: Topshop

Feel like heading home for just a weekend, stuff myself with all the awesome, cheap food back home, and also drink mama's soup. Great to know home is just 4 hours of flight away.

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My sweet tooth fixes from the weekend

Green Tea Frap from Starbucks; makes me miss college life more than ever, used to be 'stuck' in Starbucks from 10am till 12am because of A levels. Starbucks' ambience tops library's chilly, dead drop silence atmosphere anytime.

Paris from agnès b cafe; overpriced, commercialized dessert, luckily it was ok good.

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Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival 2011

Event Ticket Price: 

FREE

27 October 2011 - 12:00am - 30 October 2011 - 12:00am

Starting October 27 the world-acclaimed Hong Kong Wine and Dine Month begins, kicking off with the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival at the picturesque West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade.

Voted as one of the top 10 international food and wine festivals by Forbes Traveler.com, the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival is a four-day gourmand's paradise.

Fine wines from over 19 countries and regions will be available for sampling as well as culinary delights to whet the appetite at over 280 booths. The festival is held outdoors and harborside, with the stunning backdrop of Hong Kong's renowned skyline.

The festival also features performances by a variety of musicians, including producer and singer Hanjin Tan and jazz master Eugene Pao.

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Another Hainan development: Lan Kwai Fong and Mission Hills tag team

The Lan Kwai Fong Group and Mission Hills Group announced a partnership yesterday to develop a RMB 2 billion leisure complex located in Haikou, capital of Hainan island.

Upon its completion by the end of 2013, Mission Hills-Lan Kwai Fong-Haikou will be a 240,000-square-meter retail, shopping, entertainment and dining complex that will adjoin the Mission Hills Haikou International Golf Resort, which opened last year.

Ken Chu, CEO and chairman of Mission Hills Group, said that his company will finance the project while Lan Kwai Fong will manage it. He did not offer a breakdown of the financing.

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