Several botanical gardens are having Mother's Day events this Sunday. One of the advantages of going to a botanical garden, I've found, is that they usually have wonderful gift shops that are perfect places for picking up that last minute present.

If you've forgotten to buy your mother a gift, when she's not looking, perhaps, when she's basking in the fragrance of a floral paradise, slip into the shop to buy her a little something. Since the wedding season is upon us, pick up a wedding gift as well. Here are the first 10 botanical gardens I came across that listed a Mother's Day happening. Nine are in the U.S. and one is not.

(This photo is from a tribute to redbuds and mothers at the Children's Garden at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. My mom taught me to love redbuds too, so I thought this fitting.)

Every year when the temperature warms and the wind picks up, we buy a cheap kite to fly for a day or two before we get too busy to head to an open field. As an Earth Day Celebration, what could be more environmentally friendly than kite flying? Except, of course, for the gas to get to a place with wind and enough space.

Open fields are among the best places to fly a kite if you live in an urban area. Think the middle of a high school track for one option. Look out for power lines, though. Kites and power lines are not a good combo. If you live near a coast or a large lake, head to the beach. Other places to consider are fields in city parks.

One thing I like about kite flying, once you have a kite, it's free. It's also participatory. What a great way to join in with humanity in environmentally friendly fun. Here are suggestions--some based on personal experience, what people have told me, or in this article, "The Ten Best Places Around the World to Go Fly a Kite":

One of the more interesting aspects of living in another country, I think, is going to a cultural event that is not part of ones own culture or the culture of the host country. In each place I've lived, there have been people from other countries who are also transplants who have brought aspects of their own cultures with them. Such was the case with the Passover Seder I went to at the American Club in Taipei. I'm not Jewish, but a good friend that I taught with in Hsinchu is, and she asked if I wanted to go.

The American Club was merely the location of the event. One didn't have to be an American to go, or a member of the American Club. There were Jewish folks from all over the world. If I hadn't been living in Taiwan, I wouldn't have had this experience--not because there haven't been Seders that I could have gone to before this, but because it's so easy to become routine in ones habits. Living overseas gets one out of the routine and, at least to me, opens up other possibilities for cultural exchange.

With Passover coming up, April 19-27, I was reminded of this experience. Here's a Web site of the Chabad-Lubavitch where you can find Seders to attend all over the world, as well as, a variety of activities and info about Passover. The International Seder Finder lists 2,000 Seders. This link leads to descriptions of the cultural significance of each of the foods shown in the picture.

The fortune cookie isn't the only food that is not authentically Chinese. There are others--some I knew about just because many dishes served at Chinese restaurants in the U.S. didn't originate in China, or if they did, have been altered to suit American palates. Most of the Chinese food I ate in Taiwan or Singapore didn't look or taste similar to the food we pile on our plates at the China Buffet near our house in Columbus, Ohio. Although, it is a perfect place to eat with young children, unless you're Anthony Bourdain, and, in that case, the food barely resembles food at all, authentic it's not.

Back to Chinese food that didn't hail from the "old country" meaning China. In this photo essay, Jennifer 8 Lee, New York Times reporter and writer of the book Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food, presents info about food related items associated with China, but they aren't really Chinese. Broccoli, for example, is not Chinese. That broccoli-chicken dish is an American version, although broccoli has made its way to Taiwan. I imagine there's probably an altered American/Chinese version there. I don't recall. I was too busy stuffing my face with other dishes.

Lee also knows a lot about what is Chinese culture and not Chinese culture about other food related topics, such as food containers. Cardboard cartons for Chinese take-out were created and popularized in the U.S., but Taiwan has a love affair going with Styrofoam. Environmentally friendly habits are not Taiwan's strong suit. I do know that from experience. The few details presented in the photo essay, besides making me feel a bit hungry, put me in the mood for checking out Lee's book.

If you have 21 days between now and May 15 and August 20 through December 1, Cathay Pacific Airways has the All Asia Pass that gives travelers a chance to visit Hong Kong and up to four more cities in Asia. Prices range from $1,099 with two additional cities; $1,399 for three cities, plus Hong Kong; to $1,699 for the four cities and Hong Kong. With San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York as departure cities, you could probably snag an inexpensive flight to any of them if you plan early enough.

If I were going to take advantage of this ticket, I'd head to Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan and Cambodia. The first three, because I've been to each of them and have people I'd like to visit. Cambodia is a place I'd love to go. None of them are far from each other which would help maximize my time in the countries and not going from place to place. In Vietnam, I'd head north to Sapa, a place I haven't been and see friends in Hanoi. In Thailand, I'd spend a day or two in Bangkok and then head to a beach somewhere. Taiwan would mean revisiting places I liked when I lived there, particularly Beipu and eating all the food I've missed since I left. Cambodia would mean new discoveries.

But, since as with most great travel deals, the summer is excluded and that's when I would have the 21 days to spare, I can't take advantage. Hopefully, others can. Except for Taiwan, it's possible to travel in the other three on a shoestring. Hong Kong is good for a day or two, but I'd head to cheaper locations ASAP.

We're getting rain --again. When I drove up SR 23 Monday night after a quick trip to southeastern Kentucky, I could see the river 's waters shimmering, higher than normal. These are the days when having a decent umbrella on hand can save you from getting drenched and uncomfortable--maybe. If you get caught in one of Taiwan's torrential rain, lots of luck. I remember wringing out my socks in a restaurant bathroom sink once.

One thing I like about one kind of umbrella in Taiwan is the plastic covering that folds like a plastic foldable cup, one section tucking into another when the umbrella is open. The compressed cup is at the top of the umbrella while the umbrella is in use. After you close the umbrella, the "cup" expands as each section slides over the nylon fabric and ribs until all are covered. The idea is that the covered umbrella does not allow water to drip over the floor. It kind of works. I did bring one back to the U.S. with me, but I don't know where it is anymore. Such is the life of an umbrella.

Lisa Shin dove into the life of an umbrella a few years ago, vowing to try several to find the best. Her findings are here in this Slate article I came across when searching for info on the Taiwan style umbrella. No luck with that, but, from what I can tell, according to Shin, a cheap umbrella bought in Chinatown might work just fine. She details several umbrellas with pros, cons and prices of each. I was floored that someone would pay more than $20 for an umbrella. How about close to over $200!! They are so hard to keep track of. Are people nuts?

Yesterday I ran into a woman I know who is an avid traveler. Her trips are the type where you learn a thing or two--historical trips of famous European paintings, or something. I can't quite remember, but I do know they are themed versions that she researches herself based on her interests. Yesterday, she told me she recently retired and is off this month to Hungary and another country whose name escapes me. (It's a Kellie Pickler moment, not to be mean. We all have them.)

She mentioned how she has arranged this trip herself. "I'm not doing that again," she said. "It's worth the money to get a travel agent." I'm under the impression she spent a lot of time on this do-it-yourself endeavor. Last I knew, she doesn't have a computer at home. I assume she's used the computers at the library since that's where I saw her. Then we talked about how if you have a travel agent, you also have a person who can work on your behalf if you have a problem. Possibly, a travel agent might even find a cheaper deal.

Years ago I had a travel agent arrange a trip for me going from Albuquerque to Taiwan for a week, then to Japan for another week, then Honolulu for two weeks, then to Los Angeles for a layover of a couple of days before heading back to Albuquerque. The two tickets, one for me, and one for my traveling companion whose itinerary was different than mine, were screaming deals. Since I had given her the names of companies that were offering cheap fares from ads I saw in the Los Angeles Times, she told me I could book what she found myself. I let her do the booking and paid her fee. That seemed fair since she did most of the work. Obviously, I had one of those travel agents who was competent and dedicated.

We've also had a wonderful travel agent in Singapore who got us what we wanted, and we used one in Sri Lanka to find us the deals we were after. I say the more specific you are in your desire, the better your luck. Wondering about this, I checked over at Travel Troubleshooter columnist, Christopher Elliot's blog to see what his take is on travel agents. Sure enough, a few days ago, he took on the question "Are travel agents worth the extra money." He generally thinks so for the reasons I think. There some comments from people who differ. Maybe it's a toss-up. Still, I'd tell my retired friend next time, find an agent with a good reputation so all she has to worry about is what to pack.

Anna's post about IKEA brought back fond memories. Going to IKEA in Singapore and Taiwan were wonderful outings that helped us add affordable, aesthetically pleasing items to our apartments. IKEA saved me from despair in Taiwan. Not that I didn't absolutely love our Taiwan apartment's glass coffee and end tables with their chrome legs and the aquamarine colored vinyl-sided couch with its matching chairs.The chairs and couch had chrome legs to match the tables. When the apartment came furnished, I wasn't quite counting on the colors and chrome. Let's just say tastes differ. IKEA area rugs and throw pillows helped me tone down the noise a bit.

Each time I visited IKEA, a part of me wanted to live there. Mark Malkoff, a comedian/filmmaker did live in IKEA in Paramus, New Jersey for 6 days in January when his Manhattan apartment was being fumigated for cockroaches. Here's the YouTube video of Mark's first day. You'll see some of the items Anna mentions. All the videos from the six days are on Mark's Web site, Mark lives in IKEA . Here's a link to the ABC News clip that gives a rundown of the story.

To welcome the Year of the Rat, some people in rural Taiwan and China have increased their rat consumption accordingly. Reuters reports that a rural eatery at Taiwan's Chiayi county, serves 10 rat-themed dishes, including rat soup, black pepper-dipped and deep-fried rat. The diner goes through around 18 kg (40 lb) of rat meat per day.

Here is the "Rat-at-Chewy" video by Reuters, depicting the way rats are prepared and eaten. I wouldn't suggest watching it before lunch.

Rat meat apparently became popular in rural Taiwan in the 1940s and 1950s among people who could not afford chicken or pork. At least we know that if the sub-prime mortgage crisis gets any worse, there are enough rats in New York to fill every American man, woman and child.

There is a Chinese New Year song my daughter learned when we lived in Taiwan that we used to wheedle her into singing for guests when she was younger. Eventually, we had to promise to never make her sing it again.

While I was looking for a YouTube video of the song, I came across several professionally made music videos of other Chinese New Year songs. This one has Chinese New Year decorations that capture the flavor of the holiday and a celebratory mood. I sure feel Chinese New Year-like after watching several of them. This is a catchy tune, so perhaps you can sing along.