13/02/2025

The 10 Coldest & Hottest Countries In The World

The 10 Coldest Countries In The World
The snow-clad streets of Montreal, Canada, in winter

The world's coldest countries are spread around the planet but share common geographical characteristics. They are landlocked or island nations, Nordic countries, and those near a pole and/or the Arctic Circle. The island states and countries with an ocean shore often see warmer temperatures along the coast, while inland countries orientate themselves south-north from warmest to coldest. These are the coldest countries in the world by annual mean temperatures.

Canada - 22.37°F
Russia - 22.82°F
Mongolia - 30.74°F
Norway - 34.70°F
Kyrgystan - 34.79°F
Finland - 35.06°F
Iceland - 35.15°F
Tajikistan - 35.60°F
Sweden - 35.78°F
Estonia - 41.18°F


The 10 Hottest Countries In The World
Life in the hot and dry environs of Mali is quite hard for the residents there

It can get pretty toasty out there, especially in some regions of the globe. These ten countries consistently push the mercury readings to uncomfortable (for most) levels. The following figures were calculated by taking the collective average of the annual temperatures between 1991 and 2020:

Mali (28.83°C / 83.89°F)
Burkina Faso (28.71°C / 83.68°F)
Senegal (28.65°C / 83.57°F)
Tuvalu (28.45°C / 83.21°F)
Djibouti (28.38°C / 83.08°F)
Mauritania (28.34°C / 83.01°F)
Bahrain (28.23°C / 82.81°F)
Palau (​​28.04°C / 82.47°F)
Qatar (28.02°C / 82.44°F)
The Gambia (27.97°C / 82.35°F)

12/02/2025

Yuán Xiāo Jié 元宵節 Chap Goh Mei 2025


Rediscovering the romance of Chap Goh Mei


Chap Goh Meh in Teochew simply means "the 15th night of Chinese New Year". Aside from being tagged as the last day of the festival, Chap Goh Meh is also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day. On a celebratory point of view, this night sees the gathering of family members as they sit down to a meal together.

Just like Chinese New Year, Chap Goh Meh used to be celebrated with lots of fireworks and firecrackers which are now banned from use. Many homes gaily decorated with red lanterns and bright lights to mark the end of an auspicious occasion. Thanksgivings are held while many people would pray for success and wealth for the coming year.

Chap Goh Meh is also regarded as the Chinese Valentine's Day, bringing forth lots of fun and gaiety. Chap Goh Meh used to be a night of courtship and was a forerunner in promoting match-making. On this night, many young ladies would make their way to the Esplanade, dressed in their best, with hope of finding prospective suitors.

One of the fun activities that take place on this auspicious night includes the throwing of tangerines into the sea off the Esplanade by these young maidens. It is without a doubt, the most popular and colorful moment in the celebration of Chap Goh Meh. It is believed that by throwing tangerines into the sea, these young girls would find themselves a good husband. For many, the act of throwing tangerines into the sea also signifies that these ladies are available for marriage. It is also said that if someone else who sees the floating tangerine in the water and picked it up, that generally means that the single who threw it would be able to find a good spouse.

These are Memories of "The Good Old Days".

The 15-Day Celebration of Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year starts with the New moon on the first day of the first lunar month and ends on the Full moon 15 days later:

  • First day - zhengyue 1, ’Birthday of Chicken’
  • Second day - zhengyue 2, ‘Birthday of Dog’
  • Third day - zhengyue 3, ‘Birthday of Pig’
  • Fourth Day - zhengyue 4, ‘Birthday of Sheep’
  • Fifth day - zhengyue 5, ‘Birthday of Ox, Cattle’
  • SIxth day - zhengyue 6, ‘Birthday of Horse’
  • Seventh day - zhengyue 7, ‘Birthday of Men’
  • Eighth day - The Completion Day
  • Ninth day - The birthday of the Jade Emperor
  • Tenth to the Twelfth Day - More feasting with friends and family
  • Thirteenth day - A time to diet a bit after so much rich food
  • Fourteenth day, The Lantern Decoration Day
  • Fifteenth day, Lantern Festival

11/02/2025

Thaipusam 2025


With its colourful traditions, the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam, often brings traffic in Singapore to a standstill—and with good reason. Anchored by a large, colourful annual procession, Thaipusam sees Hindu devotees in Singapore seeking blessings, fulfilling vows and offering thanks.

The festival is celebrated in honour of Lord Subramaniam (also known as Lord Murugan), the destroyer of evil who represents virtue, youth and power. The festival generally lasts for 2 days. On the eve, a chariot procession bearing a statue of the Lord Murugan begins from Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road to Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple at Keong Saik Road.

The Thaipusam ceremony starts in the early hours of the morning. The first batch of devotees carry milk pots and wooden kavadis (ceremonial devices used for religious self mortification in Hinduism). Some pierce their tongues with skewers and carry a wooden kavadi decorated with flowers and peacock feathers balanced on their shoulders. Other devotees carry spiked kavadis that require elaborate preparation.

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10/02/2025

Animal Sex Facts You Might Not Know


If you like to tune in to TMZ to catch up on the latest celebrity sex scandals, imagine what you're missing by not watching Discovery or National Geographic instead.

The details of animal mating can be titillating, amusing, and just plain weird, all at the same time.

Here are 12 unusual animal sex facts, ranging from the permanent erections of alligators to the arrow-shaped "love darts" wielded by snails and slugs:
  • Male Alligators Have Permanent Erections
  • Female Kangaroos Have Three Vaginas
  • Antechinus Males Copulate Themselves to Death
  • Flatworms Fence With Their Sex Organs
  • Male Porcupines Urinate on Females Before Sex
  • Barnacles Have Enormous Penises
  • Mating Snails Stab Each Other With 'Love Darts'
  • Female Chickens Can Eject Unwanted Sperm
  • Male Honeybees Lose Their Penises While Mating
  • Sheep Have a High Rate of Homosexuality
  • Male Anglerfish Merge With Females During Mating
  • Male Damselflies Can Remove the Sperm of Competitors

09/02/2025

Wushu popular sport among Bangladeshi schoolgirls


Wushu has become a popular sport in Bangladesh, particularly among school girls who find traditional Chinese martial arts interesting because it teaches them self-defense.