Culture of Maldivs

Though performances of traditional music and dance are not everyday events, there is a contemporary Divehi culture which is strong and adaptive, despite foreign influences which range from Hindi movies and Oriental martial arts to Michael Jackson and Muslim fundamentalism. Western fashions, pop music and videos are visible in the capital, but on public occasions, like the beginning and end of Ramadan, the celebrations always have a distinctly Maldivian touch. There are three daily newspapers and several magazines in the unique national language, rock bands who sing Divehi lyrics, and multi-storey buildings which echo the architecture of Maldivian island houses. A bodu beru means a big drum, and gives its name to the best known form of traditional music and dance. It's what tourist resorts put on for a local culture night, and it can be quite sophisticated and compelling. Dancers begin with a slow, nonchalant swaying and swinging of the arms, and become more animated as the tempo increases, finishing in a rhythmic frenzy. There are four to six drummers in an ensemble, and the sound has strong African influences. Contemporary local rock bands often perform at resorts where they do credible covers of the usual old favourites. Performing for a local audience they may incorporate elements of bodu beru in their music, with lots of percussion and extended drum solos. Cassettes from local bands are sold in Malé music shops.

Culture of Turkey

Turkey is the successor state to the Ottoman Empire.[8] It is a democratic, secular, unitary, constitutional republic, whose political system was established in 1923 under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, following the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of World War I. Since then, Turkey has become increasingly integrated with the West through membership in organizations such as the Council of Europe, NATO, OECD, WEOG, OSCE and the G-20 major economies. Turkey began full membership negotiations with the European Union in 2005, having been an associate member of the EEC since 1963, and having reached a customs union agreement in 1995. Turkey has also fostered close cultural, political, economic and industrial relations with the Eastern world, particularly with the rest of the Middle East and states of Central Asia, through membership in organizations such as the OIC and ECO. Turkey is classified as a developed country[9] by the CIA and as a regional power by political scientists and economists worldwide.

Bangkok Culture

Bangkok has numerous traditional dances and theatre groups, which perform throughout the city, even though today they are more popular among foreign visitors than local people. Bangkok has It's own orchestra called the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. Western plays, with known actors from Britain and America, are put on for short. Discover Thai society and Thai culture. Bangkok Bus I n Bangkok there are several kinds of bus Common bus T heir color is red. it is a cheap way or Baht to travel through Bangkok but they are always full especially at rush working hours. There is no air conditioning inside, just all windows are open. Being in a common bus during. Country, the People, the Culture and the Language Thailand is a beautiful country and very rich in culture. Bangkok is often described as a city of contrasts in which it is very safe to stay and travel around in. The people are extremely kind and most hospitable. They have a very positive attitude to adoption

The culture of Argentina is as varied as the country's geography and mix of ethnic groups. Modern Argentine culture has been largely influenced by European immigration although there are also some Amerindian and African influences, particularly in the fields of music and art. Buenos Aires and other cities show a mixture of architectural styles imported from Europe but in the case of older settlements, and of older preserved neighborhoods within cities, modern styles appear mixed with colonial features, relics from the Spanish-ruled past. Museums, cinemas and galleries are abundant in all the large urban centers, as well as traditional establishments such as literary bars, or bars offering live music of a variety of genres.

Belgium Culture

Belgian culture is a potent combination of world-renowned art, gastronomical delights (chocolates and beer), baroque architecture and iconic literature. Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck (who gave rise to the term Flemish art) painted masterpieces here and Herge created his lovable, legendary comic character Tintin. Poet and playwright Maurice Maeterlinck won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1911. Mostly, cultural life finds expression within each of the major communities because there are no bilingual universities, except the royal military academy, no common media, and no common large cultural or scientific organization where both are represented. Folk festivals play a major role in the country's cultural life. The Carnival of Binche and Aalst, the Ducasse of Ath, the procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges, the August 15 festival in Liège, and the Walloon festival in Namur attract hordes of people and are vivid, joyous affairs. Football and cycling are popular sports and among the famous cyclists, Eddy Merckx has won five Tours de France and is considered one of the best cyclists ever. The Spa-Francoise motor-racing circuit is also considered one of the most challenging in the world and is home to the Belgian Grand Prix (a Formula One World Championship race).

Nigerian Culture

Nigerian culture is as multi-ethnic as the people in Nigeria. The people of Nigeria still cherish their traditional languages, music, dance and literature. Nigeria comprises of three large ethnic groups, which are Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani and Igbo. However there are other ethnic groups as well. Thus culture in Nigeria is most positively multi-ethnic. Culture of Nigeria gives a lot of value to different types of arts, which primarily include ivory carving, grass weaving, wood carving, leather and calabash. Pottery, painting, cloth weaving and glass and metal works. There are more than 250 languages spoken in Nigeria. English is considered to be the official language. However, it is notable that not more than about 50% of the population is able to speak in English. Every tribe has got its own language, which they prefer following as the standard mode of communication among themselves. Nigeria culture includes varieties in types of clothing as there are different groups of people living in the country. What is common in their dressing style is the conservativeness. Nigerian culture gives a lot of importance in treating the guests with utmost care and warmth. The hospitality of people represents this tradition. That is why people are not supposed to say thank you, when they are offered food. Among the games, the Nigerians enjoy soccer the most. Polo, cricket, swimming and wrestling are popular among the affluent classes. Nigerian culture is as old as 2000 years and what makes it stand out is its diversity.

The living with Parents Culture

As the population of North America ages, millions of adult children is faced with the challenge of how to help their parents make the transition to their later years of life. For elderly parents in reasonably good health for whom living on their own is no longer possible, assisted living facilities (ALFs) are becoming an increasingly popular option, ideally providing some measure of independence with varying degrees of assistance and support. The author was sixty-four years old when it became obvious that his eighty-nine-year-old mother, Ida, could no longer live alone. After considering a variety of options, including home health care assistance, he and his mother decided to sell her home, and she moved into an assisted living facility. In Assisted Living for Our Parents, Baum chronicles every step of his and his mother's journey into the world of assisted living, providing guidance for the millions of adults who face these same decisions. Baum's story is the intensely personal one of a son learning to cope with his evolving relationship with his mother, balancing his own concerns for his mother's health and safety with her desire for independence and a role in decisions about her own life. Readers follow Baum and his mother over six years, from their initial decision to move her into an ALF to discussions about her end-of-life wishes. Complicating all of these issues was the fact that Baum lived hundreds of miles from his mother, a situation he shared with seven million other adult children in North America who live more than three hundred miles away from their parents.

England Culture

England Culture has come along way and has developed over several millennia, to recent movements such as Brit Art and now encompasses a variety of forms which include photography, painting, sculpture and performance art. Cuisines of England also influence the England culture to a great extent. The urbanized workers of England were in many cases cut off from regional food traditions as the country was the first industrialized country of the world. More recently, a new style of cooking called Modern British has emerged that combines traditional British ingredients with foreign culinary influences.
English folklore that has evolved in England over a number of centuries is yet another aspect that influences the Culture of England. England thrives with folklore in all forms such as the traditional semi-mystical Arthurian legends and semi-historical Robin Hood tales, to contemporary urban myths and facets of crypto zoology. Culture of England is lame till we include the heritage of the country as it is massively affected and influenced by it. In recent years, Stonehenge has become a focus for modern summer solstice celebrations. Though the Stonehenge pre-dates the existence of England as a nation, it is believed by many English people to hold an iconic place in the culture of England. English literature has been made rich by the famous works by the popular writer of the past like William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy and many more. Just like literature, English music has been instrumental in influencing the England Culture to a large extent.

Culture of Bhutan

Bhutan has a rich and unique cultural heritage that has largely remained intact due to its isolation from the rest of the world until the early 1960s. One of the main attractions for tourists is the country's culture and traditions. Bhutanese tradition is deeply steeped in its Buddhist heritage. Hinduism is the second dominant religion in Bhutan, being most prevalent in the southern regions. Both religions co-exist peacefully and receive support from the government, and enjoy royal patronage. The government is increasingly making efforts to preserve and sustain the current culture and traditions of the country. Due to its largely un spoilt natural environment and cultural heritage, Bhutan has been referred to as The Last Shangri-la.
While Bhutanese citizens are free to travel abroad, Bhutan is viewed as inaccessible by many foreigners. There is a widespread misconception that Bhutan has set limits on tourist visas. Another reason why Bhutan is not a popular place to visit by travelers on a shoe string budget is it's too expensive. Entry is free for citizens of India and Bangladesh, but all other foreigners are required to sign up with a Bhutanese tour operator and pay around $200 per day that they stay in the country. Single tourists are not allowed in the country. Even Indians and Bangladeshis are discouraged to travel alone, unless you know someone personally or have relatives in Bhutan.

Culture of Sri Lanka

Buddhism has been the biggest influence in molding the variegated cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. In addition, much of the culture of south India has also made inroads into the social fabric of the island. The Europeans, particularly the Dutch and the British who colonized the island , added their own cultural hues, thus, creating a motley blend which is embellished by the architecture, sculpture, paintings, dances, theatre, cuisines et.
The classical architecture, sculpture and painting of the island bear the Buddhist trademark. Buddhist Stupas are scattered all over the countryside, and there are several exquisite Buddhist sculptures, especially at Aukana and Buduruvagala. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa showcases the archaeological legacy of Sri Lanka.Today, Kandy is the cultural hub of the country. Dutch forts, churches, British residences, clubs and courthouses are reminiscient of the colonial era. The city of Galle is home to the finest colonial monuments of the country. Woodcarving, weaving, pottery and metalwork bear the touch of rare artistic finesse. Sri Lanka is renowned for its gems. While the best of Sri Lankan masks come from Ambalangoda, Ratnapura is the honey pot of Sri Lanka's gem trade. Sinhalese dancing bears semblance to Indian dance but it takes recourse to acrobatics, nimbleness and symbolism to unfold its narratives. While Kandy is famous for 'up-country dancing', Colombo and Ambalangoda are the nerve centres of ritualistic exorcism of 'devil dancing'. Folk theatre is a rich blend of dance, masked drama, drumming and exorcism rituals. Rice and curry are the main cuisines at meal times which is supplemented by side delicacies which include dishes of vegetables, meat and fish. Sri Lankans also feast upon Indian dishes such as vegetarian thali and biriyani. A unique Sri Lankan snack is Hoppers which is served with egg or honey and yoghurt. It is similar to pan cake. Delicious sea food is available in the coastal areas. In addition, a slew of tropical fruits are there in the Sri Lankan menu. Tea is the favorite drink. It is customary to offer tea to a visitor and for the sake of courtesy it is not generally turned down.

Culture of Brazil

The great challenge that the country faces is the pressure that development exercises on Brazilian traditional structures, whether they be urban sites of cultural value, archaeological sites, indigenous settlements, or traditional populations, with their unique knowledge and practices. Investments have been made in urban sites of cultural value to preserve them as heritage sites but even if we take into account the efforts made by the Monumental Programmed , it has not yet achieved a management strategy to expedite such areas and ensure their sustainability. In contrast to that, big historical urban sites, some of which have been registered as World Heritage sites, have arrived at a stage where the conservation measures, which are mainly focused on refurbishing buildings, have become exhausted. Such sites call for an urgent managerial strategy not only capable of handling the issue of conservation but most of all, of placing them squarely on the Brazilian Development agenda and thus avoiding their becoming even more marginalized than they are at present. Increased consumption, innovation and entertainment nourish the culture industry in Brazil. However, in keeping with global trends, this sector is liable to become very concentrated. Once again we find, on one hand, an opportunity to reinforce the more dynamic sectors of the cultural industry - audiovisual, music, and design – while on the other hand, there are severe limitations to distribution, access and even to the qualified labor force in sectors with greater technological requirements.

Switzerland Culture

Traditionally, Switzerland has not been considered one of the cultural centers of Europe. It is known more for cleanliness, punctuality, discipline and and high degree of consciousness about the environment than for its artistic achievements. But in recent times, its commitment to peace is what has drawn artists looking for a safe haven in which to do their creative work. During the rise of fascism in the 1930s and 1940s a number of German, Austrian and Italian migrated to Switzerland including Thomas Mann, Stefan George, Herman Hesse, and Ignazio Silone. A multi-cultural nation, Switzerland’s national identity is shaped by a variety of influences including those of German, French and Italian neighbors. Folk music and dance are popular in Switzerland. While yodeling is usually down in the mountains, there are many other varieties of folk music revolving around patriotic or pastoral themes. The Schuplattler is a lively, dance with rapid sequences of jumping and hopping. Woodcarving and embroidery are also common. In literature, Switzerland has produced writers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, critic and historian Jacob Burckhardt, Gottfried Keller, Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, Jeremias Gotthelf and Charles Ferdinand Ramuz. Hermann Hesse and Carl Spitteler both won a Nobel Prize for their works. Winter sports are obviously very popular in this mountainous country. Apart from skiing and mountaineering, Swiss-style wrestling (Schwingen) is also popular in rural areas. Sunday-morning shooting sessions and Hornussen (a kind of Alpine baseball) are other traditional Swiss sports. Sports are developed and you can take your pick from tennis, golf, ice hockey, football (soccer), basketball, handball, gliding, paragliding, sailing, swimming, volleyball, floorball, mountain biking and hiking.