A British friend told me he couldn't understand why Chinese people love eating sunflower seeds (葵花子) as a snack so much. “I've met a lot of older Chinese and many have a crack in their front teeth; I believe that's from cracking the seeds,” he said.

I had never noticed the habit, but once he mentioned it, I suddenly became more aware. I realized that whenever I'm watching TV or typing a report, I always start mindlessly cracking sunflower seeds. My friend doesn't like sunflower seeds, and, to him, it seems unnecessary to work so hard just to get one small seed.

When we were young, the whole family would usually get together for Chinese New Year. Then, we all lived close to one another, usually in a small city, and sometimes even neighbors would go door - to - door on Chinese New Year's Eve to check out what every household was making.

I remember my parents would be in the kitchen cooking. In the living room, a large table would already be laid out, complete with a fancy tablecloth, ready - made dumpling fillings, and dishes full of candy, fruits and sunflower seeds.

Some of the dishes were to be offered to our ancestors later, while others were for neighbors and children to eat before the evening feast. I must have learned how to crack sunflower seeds back then.

I don't think it's right to criticize one's choice in food or eating habits, no matter how strange they may seem.

It's not only in China. When I went abroad, I found people had all sorts of strange habits when it came to food. In Denmark, they put salted red fish on bread and eat it for dinner, no matter how much it ruins their breath. They think it's a delicacy, and ifs connected with their culture. I think it's a wonderful tradition.

Is it possible to make paper without trees? Australian businessmen Kevin Garcia and John Tse were determined to find out. They spent a year researching a possible alternative that could serve as a possible raw material for making paper.

“What if we re - engineer how paper is made to be more in line with our environmental responsibility?” asked Garcia. Then Garcia read about a Taiwanese company making paper out of stone and inspiration struck. A year later, in July 2017, they launched Karst Stone Paper. The company produces paper without using wood, water or chemicals with terrible smell. Their source is stone waste mined from construction sites and other industrial waste places.

“If you look at the whole process of how paper is traditionally made, it involves cutting trees, adding chemicals and bleach to make pulp (纸浆), using lots of water and then squeezing, drying and flattening it into sheets of paper,” said Garcia. “It contributes to high deforestation and carbon emission (抖、放).”

The pulp and paper industry uses over 40% of all industrial wood traded globally, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Karst, based in Sydney, aims to reduce the rate of deforestation with its sustainably-made paper goods.

In 2019, Garcia estimated (估计) Karst’s paper production helped save 540 large trees from being cut down, 83, 100 liters of water from being used and 25, 500 kilograms of carbon dioxide from being emitted.

“We collect abandoned limestone from wherever we can find it, wash it and ground it into fine powder,” Garcia said, “The powder is mixed with HDPE resin (高密度聚乙烯树脂). The paste-like mixture is finally turned into thin sheets of paper. The carbon emission from this process is about 67% less than making paper from tree pulp,” he said.

Travelling can be expensive, including accommodation, visa application fee, transportation as well as restaurants.     11     Try some of the advice below on your next vacation and your wallet will thank you.

Look for city tourism cards. It will benefit you a lot. With the card, you can pay less at restaurants and shops. You don't have to wait for a long time at busy attractions.     12     City tourism cards can save your money and time without question.

Don't get the best room. How long will you stay in your room?     13     Do you really need a bigger room with a good view? All of these questions you need to consider before booking.

    14     It can help you save some money by choosing a hotel distantly from big tourist attractions, for you are always doing the same - go to the attractions and then return to your hotel to sleep which may cause extra expense.

Book a room with a kitchen. Although some people might not like to cook while on vacation, I don't mind making breakfast in my room.     15     I'd rather eat breakfast and lunch at the hotel and then spend much money on a delicious supper.