THE THALI

Many national eating utensils have been replaced by the western plate but in India some persons still eat out of a ‘thali.’  This is a round tray which has an inside rim surrounded by small bowls made of matching metal.  Once made of gold and silver these trays are now made of cheaper metals.  Spiced vegetables are likely to be in the small bowls as most Indians are vegetarians.  Other Indian food and rice can be seen in the centre of the thali.

ARCH OF TRIUMPH

The Arch of Triumph situated at the end of Paris’ most famous street, the Champs Elysees Avenue, stands as an important historical monument.  This impressive structure designed by architect Jean Francois Chalgrin was ordered built by Napolean 1 in 1806 in honour of French armies but was not completed until 30 years later.  It carries sculptures depicting Napoleonic triumphs and the names of leading military figures and battles.  Visitors can view the city of Paris from the platform at the top of the arch.

TOUCANS

Toucans are an amazing group of birds with long beaks that are sometimes almost as long as their bodies.  These huge colourful bills are easily managed as they are filled with a honeycomb-like cellular bony tissue.  Nevertheless they are strong enough to crush the fruits they feed on.  With a backward jerk of their heads, they toss their food in the air catching and then swallowing it.

There are about 40 species in the tropical forests extending from Central America to the Amazon Valley with the largest being the Toco Toucan.  The name toucan comes from the word ‘tucana’ in the language of the Tupi Indians of Brazil.