Tulips and Lotus Blossoms
Here's a fun site about tulips: http://www.khammash.com/Architecture/Research/Jordan_Times/Wild_Tulip.htm

As for stereotypes (this is for mr. guam) in response to his post. I reached no real conclusion in my discussion on stereotypes....I do think it's rather odd that we have two overlapping stereotypes of Asian women in particular. the "submissive" lotus blossom and the "fiery" dragon lady. hehe...i find them amusing in movies:

1931 - In Daughter of the Dragon, Anna May Wong gives birth to the "Dragon lady" to the chagrin of Asian American actresses thereafter.

1956 - Teahouse of the Moon, set in post-WWII Okinawa, has Michiko, the soft-spoken demure "Lotus Blossom."

Then there's the every popular Asian-woman/White man "syndrome" or "asian fetish" if you will....yet nothing much in popular media on the Asian-man/White-woman type of couple.

Whether you like them or not these stereotypes seem to shape a lot of western conceptions of the east and we certainly have our misconceptions of the west. It's not even suprising to hear commentary perfused with these stereotypes on NPR...it's easy to make assumptions about something you consider "exotic" and foreign, too far away to look at or appreciate for it's uniqueness.

Not sure where this blog has gotten me...except confused.... ¶ 15:41