Search Results

We recently took our first trip to beautiful Romania, visiting the northern cities of Cluj-Napoca and Oradea. Like everywhere we go, we like to try the local fare. These are amazing 8 foods to try in Romania. Guest Blogger: Suzanne Tam, Sightseeing Shoes Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate we also earn from qualifying purchases. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purshasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra - it probably will save you some bucks. It will though give us a small comission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travellers to explore our world together. Varza a la Cluj Varza (cabbage) a la Cluj is a dish made famous in Romania's second city of Cluj-Napoca. It's a traditional evening meal and, although it may not sound that appetising, it's surprisingly tasty. A mixture of beef and pork mince, cabbage, onions, rice, and passata is layered and baked in the oven to produce something that looks like lasagne but doesn't have the artery-clogging cheesiness of the Italian classic. It doesn't sound good but it's fabulous. You can find Varza all over Cluj and many other parts of Romania and it's a really filling main course. I had my Varza at the beautiful Zama Bistro in Old Town Cluj and would highly recommend it. Zacusca Zacusca is often eaten as a starter with thick slabs of white bread. It comes in several different variations and the best way I can describe it is by saying it's a kind of savory dip. The most popular flavours are pepper and eggplant and pepper and mushroom. The former is pureed and has a really smooth, buttery taste. The latter is not pureed, so the mushrooms still have plenty of texture. They're both fantastic and I'd happily have eaten them as a main meal. Transylvanian Veal Gulyas This is a rich, slow-cooked veal dish that reminded me of goulash. It was served with roasted potatoes and parsley and was deliciously moreish. I was pretty hesitant about the veal to start with, but it was beautifully cooked. It's often served with bread so you can soak up the sauce once you've run out of potatoes. Boiled Dumplings with Jam So, stick with me here. This dessert was my first foray into the odd world of Romanian puddings. These dumplings are filled with sweet cottage cheese and sour cream before being boiled. When cooled, they're rolled in breadcrumbs and what I *think* may have been sugar. The dumplings are then served with a side of jam. I have to admit that I found the whole thing more than a little bizarre and initially hated it. Without the jam, the dumplings really aren't that tasty, but with it, they seem to completely change flavour. It's an odd thing but, trust me. Just dunk them in jam and the sweetness seems to complement the sourness of the dumpling filling perfectly. Floating Island It's kinda hard to describe this without making it sound absolutely rank, so bear with me. Floating Island is egg white, which is boiled to make it fluffy. It's then placed in a bowl with a sauce of boiled egg yolk, vanilla flavouring, and milk. Sounds awful, right? Well, it's actually quite pleasant. Les described it as 'soggy meringues' which kinda put me off a little. It has a really foamy texture but the vanilla in the sauce helps make it pretty palatable. We had it in a Romanian Bistro and watched as bowl after bowl of Floating Islands were marched out of the kitchen. Suffice to say it's obviously pretty popular with the locals. Covrigi Covrigi are large, soft pretzels sold in bakeries across Romania. There are kiosks and stores entirely dedicated to them. They come in a variety of flavour combinations; both sweet and savoury. They're an extremely popular Romanian street food and you'll pass people constantly munching them from paper bags as you wander the streets. They're inexpensive and really tasty, which makes them the perfect food to grab as a quick lunch when you're in between activities. Some kiosks have them ready-made with toppings on, while others have them plainly baked and allow you to choose your own. Get the lemon. Always get the lemon. Palanet (savoury bread) Romanians love their bread and pastries and you're never too far from a traditional bakery when you're wandering city streets. We tried a few variations of palanet and enjoyed them all. They're served warm and often have filling inside. My preference was for cheese and onion, while Les was a fan of the sweet cottage cheese version. Neither of us was brave enough to try the cabbage palanet. I'm not entirely sure I'm even sorry about that. I often wonder if I seriously missed out. Sarmale Sarmale are cabbage rolls, which are widely considered to be the national dish of Romania. As my national dish is haggis, I'm not really qualified to be judging other people's choice of foodstuffs. I'm absolutely certain the Romanian staple can at least be classified as actual food, so that gives them an advantage straight away.  Haggis is amazing, but slightly on the dodgy side, provenance-wise.  Aaaaanyway, Romanian cabbage rolls are stuffed with spiced pork and rice and eaten as a main meal.  Romanians have an uncanny knack for making cabbage taste, well...un-cabbage like, so it doesn't actually feel like that's what you're eating. It's a very odd skill; like some sort of Romanian witch-craft. Have you tried any amazing food in Romania that isn't on the list? Find Cheap Accommodation in Romania Guest Blogger Suzanne Tam from Sightseeing Shoes is a Food and Travel Blogger from UK that loves to travel with her partner as often as she can but also keen to write about it in her blog. With many Destinations travelled both in UK and abroad combined with Travel Tips and Travel Fun along the way you should visit Sightseeing Shoes and follow her on Instagram. Romanian Food Guide Ever wondered what to eat in Romania? This is a Food Guide to Romanian Traditional Food. The Food in Romania is rustic and earthy food as you can see in this Romanian Food Guide. Visit Romania through food here. #romanianfood #foodguide #romanianfoodguide #whattoeatinromania #romaniantraditionalfood #foodinromania #rusticandearthyfood #visitromania Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate we also earn from qualifying purchases. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purshasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra - it probably will save you some bucks. It will though give us a small comission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travellers to explore our world together.

Budapest in Hungary; Buda & Pest carries itself with effortless charm on every beautiful street corner. Classic good looks with its flamboyant architecture steeped in dramatic history and culture makes it a must-see city in Eastern Europe. Guest Bloggers: Suk & Sangy, Urge to XPLORE Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purshasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra. It will though give us a small comission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travellers to explore our world together. Straddling the Danube - Budapest will charm you with its classic good looks and flamboyant architecture steeped in dramatic history and culture. This Eastern European capital city is full of arts, history, geothermal pools, incredible markets, parks, gorgeous cafes, and ruin bars. The Romans, Magyars, Austrians, Ottoman Turks, and the Soviets have all left their marks in its architecture and culture. River Danube divides the city geographically into two parts Buda on the west and Pest to the east. Both parts of this marvelous city are distinctly different with their own personalities. Buda is hilly and Pest is flat. Parliment Building in Budapest The two sides of the city are joined by many bridges spanning the Danube with the oldest and most prominent being the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. From the Buda side of the bridge, you see Gresham Place a beautiful art nouveau building which is now a luxury hotel and St. Stephen’s Basilica with a tall dome considered the most important church in all of Hungary. Built-in Neoclassical style with stunning interiors it is named in honor of Stephen, the first King of Hungary, whose right hand is housed in the reliquary. Not far from the Parliament is the Liberty Square or Szabadsag Square home to many significant memorials including the memorial to the soviets and art deco buildings like the National Hungarian Bank. Take a stroll along the banks of the Danube to check out the Promenade. You will also pass by the Shoes on the Danube a memorial honoring the Jews who were shot here during World War II. Walking along the banks will also take you to the Margaret Island a tranquil getaway from the hustle and bustle of downtown. It is a popular recreation area with quiet walkways, flower gardens, and medieval ruins. One of the must-do activities while in Budapest is undoubtedly is a River Cruise or a Boat Tour after sunset. Its a spectacular sight with all fascinating sites on either side of river and the all the bridges are lit up. The Art installation "Shoes on the Danube" On the Buda side start your day with a tour of the Castle Hill area home to many attractions like the Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion. This part of Buda is full of charm with its narrow alleys, cobblestone streets, castles, museums, great cafes, and shops. A funicular can take you to the various attractions. Matthias Church – Built in neo-gothic style it is a Roman Catholic church with a colorful roof. Inside you will notice the vaulted ceiling with ornate décor Opposite to the church is the Holy Trinity Column built in Baroque style to commemorate the victims of the Plaque. Next door to the church is a fairly tale looking structure called the Fisherman’s Bastion which offers sweeping views of the city across the river. You will also come across the statue of King Saint Stephen the first Christian king of Hungary. Budapest is also the Spa capital of Europe with many thermal baths and pools located across the city to choose from. Head to the Baths located at the Gellért Spa and Hotel. Soaking in a spa is the most favorite past time of the locals. It is one of the grandiose of all the spas with many of its pools are being fed with thermal water from the Gellert Hill. Like the Parliament building on the Pest side, the Buda Castle is an imposing structure on the Buda side. Built on top of the hill, it used to be referred to as the Royal Palace or the Royal Castle in the past. This huge Baroque style luxurious castle houses the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. The museum offers a comprehensive overview of over 1000 years of the city’s history as well as offers some amazing views. From the National Gallery, you get to visit the Castle’s dome. Take the tram to the Gellért Hill that has several monuments like the Liberty Statue or the Freedom Statue built-in 1947 to celebrate the liberation of Hungary. Some of the best views of the city are from this hill. There are few other statues to see as well – Queen Elisabeth who was the empress of Austria. Then there is also the monument dedicated to Saint Gellért – the bishop who initiated the conversion to Christianity. Besides the statues, there’s also the Cave Church which is built inside a cave. Take a walk on the Chain Bridge and go over to the Pest side. Visit the Great Market Hall – the oldest and largest indoor market which has many traditional restaurants and souvenir shops The Heroes’ Square at the end of Andrássy Avenue is noted for its iconic statues featuring the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars and other important Hungarian national leaders. Entrance to the City Park is from this square from one can visit the zoo and the Széchenyi Baths; one of the largest spa complexes know as the Széchenyi Spa. It boasts of a dozen medicinal pools along with eight swimming pools. If you are an art buff the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Arts is located nearby.Also at the City Park is the Vajdahunyad Castle, it was built in 1896 to celebrate 1000 years of Hungary. End your day with a cup of coffee at the famous New York Café at the Boscolo Budapest Hotel. The ruin bars are a rage in Budapest for the past few years. Most of them are in the old Jewish Quarter neighborhood in the ruins of abandoned factories, buildings, and stores. These look like very normal from outside but once you get inside you will find big spaces with huge open courtyards and interconnected apartments. DJs, Dance floors, and eclectic furniture provide an entertaining experience. Some of the best known is the Szimpla Kert the original ruin bar that started the trend, Instant with its interconnected apartments, and then you also have Anker’t made up with large interconnected courtyards boasting of a gigantic dance floor. The beauty of Budapest’s flamboyant architecture is not just limited to the exteriors of the structures, you would be equally amazed by the interiors as well. Go inside and gaze at the State Opera House, the Dohány Street Synagogue, the St. Stephan’s Basilica, and the gorgeous New York Café. Best Place to Stay – Budapest is quite a walkable city. While most of the sights are on Buda side, the neighborhood around the 5th district in Pest offers many attractions including restaurants and cafes. Pest is also served well by the Metro and other forms of Public Transit. Transportation – Budapest has low cost and efficient, diverse modes of public transport including buses, metro, trolley bus, trams, suburban railways, and boat services. Taxi’s are best to avoid. The local version of Uber is called Bolt which also utilizes the taxis and is safe. Best Time to visit – Summer between June - August is the high tourist season However the shoulder season between March-May and September – November are also good with pleasant day time and comfortable night time temperatures. September is an excellent time with fewer crowds and beautiful weather. Currency – Hungarian Forint (HUF) in the official currency of Hungary. Euros are also accepted at several places The Hungarian banks offer better exchange rates and it is advisable to exchange your currency at Budapest. Recommended Itinerary – A 3-day itinerary is a must; however, a 4-day itinerary is perfect to see and enjoy all that Budapest has to offer including spending time at the Spas and the Ruin Bars. Guest Bloggers Suk & Sangy are a couple living in Toronto Canada with a nomadic soul. They have been travelling the world together for many years now and been to many places across 5 continents. As the pandemic put a restriction on their travel plans, they decided to spend their time sharing their past travel experiences through their blog – Urge to XPLORE. Also follow them on their Instagram. Budapest Guide This is an Ultimate Guide to Budapest in Hungary. Find things to see and do when visiting the Capital of Hungary: Budapest. Discover Budapest and find sightseeing spots on both Buda and Pest side of Danube in this Budapest Guide. #budapest #hungary #budapestguide #guidetobudapest #thingstoseeanddo #capitalofhungary #hungarybudapest #discoverbudapest #sightseeing #budaandpest #danube

500Second Guide from the Team at Food and Travel Guides; A Top Destination on many travelers' Bucket lists, Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The Angkor Temple area is well documented but will reveal its mysteries as soon as you go here. Author: Team at Food and Travel Guides Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purchasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra - it probably will save you some bucks. It will though give us a small commission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travelers to explore our world together. An iconic photo for travelers from all over the world; Angkor Wat Table of Content: Destination Angkor Wat - a Top Travel Guide to Angkor Temple area in Cambodia Angkor Wat Travel Guide The History of Angkor Wat How was Angkor Wat Built? Amazing Facts The Angkor Wat Symbolism When to go and how to get around Angkor Wat Start Planning your Journey to Angkor Wat Described as a "must-go" by Backpackers, Globetrotters and Off the Beaten Path Explorers, it's natural that Angkor Wat is one of the most wanted-to-visit Destinations in the World today. Angkor Wat Travel Guide Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia is the world's largest temple area and a fantastic historical destination. Visit Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Preah Khan, and Ta Prohm. In this Angkor Wat Guide, you'll find the history of Angkor Wat, the Symbolism of Angkor Wat, information on How Angkor Wat was built, and when it's the best time to visit Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, and Cambodia. Sculptures all have their individual looks and faces! Truly works of art each one The History of Angkor Wat Angkor Wat was originally built by the Khmer King Suryaverman the 2nd in the early 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, breaking from the Shaiva tradition from further Kings and gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple built with top Khmer temple architecture. Angkor Wat is located in Yaśodharapura (Khmer for what today is Angkor). Angkor Wat was also the Khmer Empire State Temple and was thought to be the King's eventual mausoleum. The King was never buried at Angkor Wat as he died in battle during a failed expedition to subdue the Dai Viet (Vietnamese) far away from Angkor. The Temples of Angkor Wat have been of significant religious importance from the start until the present, combining two plans of Temple architectural structures; original Mountain-temples and the later added Lower Galleries. Angkor Wat's perfection in the composition, its impeccable balance, and proportions, the details in the many reliefs and sculptures make it, without doubt, one of the finest temple monuments in the world today. For Cambodia, Angkor Wat has great importance being the most visited destination in the country, and the Mountain Temple is also found on the nation's flag. How was Angkor Wat Built? Amazing Facts Built between the first half of the 12th century, between 113 - 5 BC, Angkor Wat is located 6 km north of Siem Reap, south of Angkor Thom. The Entry and Exit to Angkor Wat can only be accessed from its West gate. The Angkor Temple Area; where Angkor Wat is included, is the largest religious monument in the World and is on UNESCO World Wonder List, measuring over 400 acres, or roughly 162 hectares, or 1,6 million square meters. The Sandstone to build Angkor Wat was quarried from the holy mountain of Phnom Kulen - more than 50 km away and shipped down Siem Reap River on rafts. The construction of Angkor Wat required more than 300 000 workers and 6 000 elephants - and still, it wasn't completely finished. The Angkor Wat Symbolism The temples of Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Preah Khan, and Ta Prohm is all examples of beautiful Khmer architecture. Angkor Wat is one of the best-preserved of all these temples and like many other temple mountains, it symbolizes and is a replicate of the spatial universe in miniature. The Central Tower of the five is a symbol for Mount Meru, situated at the center of the universe. The surrounding Towers are Mt Merus' lower peaks. The lower courtyards represent the mountains bounded by continents and the Moat symbolizes oceans. The 7-headed Naga (a mythical serpent) becomes the symbol of the Rainbow Bridge for humankind to reach the abode of the Gods. The Five Towers of Angkor Wat is one of the most photographed Temple and Monument sights in the world, each of the Towers built in Sandstone rises 23 meters above is crowned with four heads; each is facing in cardinal directions. The faces are believed to be a symbol and represent the rulers of the four cardinal points at the summit of Mount Meru. And we find more symbolism in the lower half of each gate. They're modeled as an elephant with 3 heads. The elephants' trunks serve as pillars and are plucking lotus flowers. The Hindu God Indra is sitting at the center of the elephant with an Apsara on each side, holding a thunderbolt in his lower left hand. The newer, bas-reliefs support that this was meant to be a funereal site as they are oriented to the west to conform to the symbolism between the setting sun and death and can be viewed from left to right in the order of a Hindu funereal ritual - Antyesti. A visitor to Angkor Wat who walks the causeway towards the main entrance, through the courtyards to reach the final main tower (which once contained a statue of Vishnu) is metaphorically traveling back to the first age of the creation of the universe. The five towers of Angkor Wat are one of the most photographed ancient ruins in the world When to go and how to get around Angkor Wat The best time of the year (you can visit Angkor Wat any time of the year though) to visit Cambodia, Siem Reap, and Angkor Wat is between November and February. This time of the year it's dryer and cooler even if it's hot for most of the days. To be able to explore the whole Temple Area of Angkor Wat and the surrounding Temples takes at least a couple of days. Just to grasp and discover Angkor Wat's mysteries takes at least a whole day and while being at the ruin site it's plenty to take in so take your time and don't rush! Angkor Wat opens already at 05.00 am and at sunrise the site is crowded; all want to take their own version of an iconic sunrise photo of Angkor Wat. Of course, that's a "must-do" but hang around until after lunchtime when most of the tour groups head to town. The upper level with the Bakan Sanctuary is open from 07.30 am. The Angkor Wat complex closes every day at 05.30 pm. To get around Angkor Wat we recommend eco-friendly options like Mountain Bikes or Electric Bicycles. You can also get around in small "motos" (motorbike taxis) for one person, "rework-motos" (or as they are called; tuk-tuks) for two, or private cars and minivans if you're a smaller group. Start Planning Your Journey to Angkor Wat Without a doubt, Angkor Wat will become a memory for life for all who visit, and for future generations to come please respect the Buddhist tradition, don't climb on buildings or steal, destroy anything on the site. To find the Best Travel Resources when planning your Angkor Wat Trip, visit our page with Travel Resources. Have you been to Angkor Wat? Tell us your experiences in the comments and hope you enjoyed the post! This Blog Post was written with inspiration and brilliance from the following sites and articles; UNESCO | TOURISM CAMBODIA | WIKIPEDIA | LONELY PLANET | PIXABAY At Food and Travel Guides you find Stories and Guides to Top Destinations from Top Food Bloggers and Top Travel Bloggers from all over the World - in one place! #angkorwat #temple #top #guide #angkorwattemple #cambodia #travelguide #history #howto #whento #visit #khmer #hindu #vishnu #symbolism #universe #symbol #mountmeru #mtmeru #travelling #travellers #travels #destination #destinations #bucketlist #templeruins #monuments #temples #planningyourtrip #buddhist #mustgo #backpackers #globetrotters #offthebeatenpath #explorers #angkorwattravelguide #angkorwattop #touristguideforangkorwat

‘’Jukkasjärvi? What the hell is that?’’ I am sure that is the first thought of many that hear that name for the first time. So, let’s clear that up right away, shall we? It is a very small village in Sweden. It lies 200 km north of the polar circle and belongs to the Swedish part of Lapland. This village was put on the map 30 years ago and year after year thousands of tourists flock to this tiny location, and some save up a long time only to be able to afford to come here for a few nights. Why you might ask, would so many people flock to a village so far away from everything? Well, because of the world-famous hotel of course. Perhaps you’ve heard about it from fellow travelers, seen it on TV in a series featuring amazing hotels, or read about it in a Magazine? Guest Blogger: Nathalie Segelborg, Nat Gone Global Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purchasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra - it probably will save you some bucks. It will though give us a small commission which will help this site remain a free resource for travelers to explore our world together. Table of Content: "10 reasons why Jukkasjärvi and Ice Hotel in Sweden should be on your bucket list" 1: Seasonal Art Suites at ICEHOTEL 2: ICEHOTEL The Restaurant 3: Ice Bar at ICEHOTEL 365 4: Dog Sledding 5: Northern Lights 6: Snowmobile Tour 7: Saami Museum – Scandinavias indigenous people 8: Feed and pet reindeer 9: Raidu 10: ICEHOTEL The Lounge Bar 10 strong reasons to visit ICE HOTEL in Sweden 30 years ago, the first-ever hotel completely made from Ice and Snow was made right there in Jukkasjärvi, and every year since they have built up a new seasonal structure, using snow and ice that comes from the river that flows right outside the hotel. This year, 2019, marks the 30th anniversary of the original ICEHOTEL which makes this year very special for the company, so I thought I would give it the attention it deserves and give you not only 1 – but 10 reasons to why you should visit this arctic destination and see the magic for yourself. #1 Seasonal Art Suites at ICEHOTEL Between December and April, you can witness an outstanding hotel made entirely out of Ice and Snow. Each Art Suite is uniquely made by a different Artist and each year new artists arrive and new dreams and ideas are brought to life. What I found out during a guided tour around the area was that ANYONE can apply to make a room. You have to have a unique Idea and if you are among the chosen few you have to be able to come to Jukkasjärvi and make the room yourself, but besides that tiny detail, Anyone is allowed to apply! ​ During the day the Hotel serves as a museum for visitors from all around the world that perhaps don’t have the bravery to spend the night in a room for themselves. After 18.00 the guests who are brave enough can check in and it closes for the public. I feel like if you’ve come all this way, you should go the extra mile and spend a night in one of these breathtaking rooms. Ice Art at ICE HOTEL, Jukkasjärvi in Sweden I bet that some of you are shaking your head at this, or at least are very skeptical of this idea, I know I was! But I am here to tell you that it’s not as bad as it sounds, I spent a night in one of the suites and survived so I’m talking from experience here! You will sleep on a proper bed and in the bed there is reindeer skin that helps to keep you warm, and on top of that, there is a sheet. You will be assigned a pillow and a sleeping bag (available as single or doubles for couples). All your belongings will be put in either a private cubicle or in a locker (depending on what room you’ve paid for) and you will change into thermal underwear, dry thick socks, and a hat. They advise you to leave everything but yourself and your shoes in the locker rooms, but I brought my phone with me so that I was able to take a few sneaky photos before we went to bed. I kept my phone in our sleeping bag, it is not ideal but it survived. Do so at your own risk though, it was very cold when we woke up and the cold drained the battery, Haha! As for the sleeping part, I slept together with my boyfriend in a double sleeping bag. we both had thermals, dry socks, and a beanie on our heads and we slept like babies! They warned us that the couples sleeping bag was the colder option due to the larger opening in the bag so if you get cold easily I would recommend choosing the single. During the morning they have a person who walks around and wakes everyone up and you can schedule a wake-up visit to suit your own travel plans, so there is no need for a phone alarm. She opened the door and said Good morning, asked if she could turn on the light, and then offered us hot lingonberry juice. In the changing area, there are both showers and a Sauna which you have access to for free when you stay in a cold room, which means that you can defrost and have a hot shower before having breakfast in the restaurant! For my tropical friends that perhaps have never needed a thermal before, there are ‘’sleeping kits’’ available for purchase with proper wool socks and everything you need to stay as warm as possible during the night! #2 ICEHOTEL The Restaurant The Restaurant is located across the road from the Hotel & the cottages and is open for Breakfast, Lunch & dinner. The breakfast is included when you’re staying at the hotel and is the perfect start to your day with plenty of healthy options and various Muesli and toppings for your Morning Breakkie bowl. ​ As for the Lunch, it is standard Swedish lunch most of the time and not anything special at all, so I would suggest venturing into Kiruna for lunch and come back for Dinner! I would suggest making a reservation for dinner in the Reception if you want to guarantee that you get a table as the restaurant fills up quite fast during peak season. The dinner Menu last year was spectacular and I can only hope they are doing something equally good for the 30th anniversary! In their main restaurant you can choose between a Single course, a 2 course, or a 3-course meal with amazing alternatives in each category or you can try their 5 course ICE MENU where 4 courses are served directly on Torne river ice, the same Ice that helps build the Ice hotel each year. ​ If you want to splurge a bit more, they have a 12-course tasting menu at the ‘’Veranda’’ which is the more exclusive alternative that only seats 13 at a time. It’s a chef’s table alternative where all the guests sit in a horseshoe formation while the Chefs prepare the food In front of you while they talk about the origin of the product and the History of the ICEHOTEL. #3 Ice Bar at ICEHOTEL 365 As if a hotel made from Ice wasn’t extraordinary enough, they had to take it a step further and create a bar entirely out of Ice and Snow. The bar used to be part of the seasonal hotel and built up each year like the rest of the hotel but the creators of ICEHOTEL wanted to make it accessible for people like you and me 365 days a year so they built 20 suites + the Icebar inside and named it ICEHOTEL 365. Here you can admire Ice sculptures while sipping a drink out of an Ice glass or try out ice sculpting yourself. You’re also welcome to sit down and chill out on one of the reindeer skins while listening to some tunes. ​ During the day these rooms serve as a Museum as well. Inside this part of the hotel, it is -5* year-round and this is possible thanks to the perfect climate conditions outside. During winter there is no need to cool it down further as outside temperatures can go down below -30 and during the summer it keeps cold with some help from the midnight sun. There are over 800m2 of solar panels on top of the Ice production roof which absorbs light 24/7 during peak summer. HOW CLEVER IS THAT?! When I first heard this, I couldn’t stop thinking of what a perfect location they have stumbled upon. #4 Dog sledding Here at the Icehotel, they offer dog sledding! If you’re like me and saw "Snowdogs" too many times as a child, it is probably also been a dream of yours to go dogsledding! You can choose between different packages to fit your budget, but if you want to splurge a bit – You can get picked up at the airport and driven to the ICEHOTEL in style via dog sledding! #5 Northern Lights I feel like you cannot say that you have lived your life to the fullest if you die without seeing one of the most breathtaking natural phenomena that I have ever had the pleasure of encountering. I think I will just let the pictures speak for themselves here, there is not much that can be said about the Aurora borealis that the pictures don’t already tell. One thing I can say is that the photos don’t even begin to do the actual show justice. #6 Snowmobile Tour You can’t go to the ICEHOTEL without joining one of their snowmobile tours! They have different tours to fit your specific need for adventure, but my favorite is by far the Northern lights tour! It’s a roughly 4-hour long trip that takes you through the wilderness to a little cabin where the guide cooks you a very yummy (and hot) meal! After driving a snowmobile out in the cold – this might feel like the best meal you’ve had all day. You will stop at various locations and search for the northern lights. But even if you don’t see it, the night sky is breathtaking with countless amounts of stars on a clear night. Keep in mind that even If this tour is called the ‘’Northern lights tour’’, the aurora lights are a natural phenomenon and can’t be controlled by us humans, meaning that there is never a 100% guarantee that you will see it. #7 Saami Museum – Scandinavias indigenous people Nearby the ICEHOTEL is the Nutti Sámi Siida, a Sámi tourism company that organizes natural and cultural experiences for visitors year-round based on Sámi culture.  Did you know that the Sámi are the Indigenous people of Scandinavia? After living in Australia for 2 years I’ve become more fascinated with my own roots and my own country and our history, so for me, it meant a huge deal to be able to come here and learn about the Sámi culture, a whole culture within my own country that I barely knew anything about. Frost Bite To enter the Saami Museum you have to pay a small fee. But then you can read and learn about Sámi's history, witness reconstructed Sámi camps, try to catch a wooden reindeer statue with a lasso (and realize how hard it is), and encounter REAL reindeers. #8 Feed and pet reindeer You can walk into the pen where the reindeer are held in the Saami Museum and get up close and personal with them. For a very small additional cost you can buy a bag of reindeer food and all of a sudden, you’re their best friend! I would recommend that you go the extra mile and buy the bag of food for 40SEK (4 Euros), it’s worth it. #9 Raidu If reading about the Saami culture, seeing, and perhaps even feeding the reindeer isn’t enough for you then you can book yourself on a Raidu! Which translates to ‘’Encounter with reindeer’’. On the Raidu you will experience the traditional Sámi lifestyle and enjoy an even closer and more exclusive encounter with the reindeer. You can help train, feed, and race with the reindeer while learning how important the reindeer are and have been throughout the Sámi history. You will also be able to eat the traditional Sámi dish ‘’souvas’’ (smoked reindeer meat) whilst relaxing around the fireplace in a lávvu-tent. My favorite part about the Raidu is when they put sleds behind the reindeer and let you race with them! It’s thrilling and super exciting and doesn’t worry if you fall off, the fresh powder snow will catch you! Haha! #10 ICEHOTEL The Lounge Bar Even if most of the exciting things happen outside or in minus degrees weather, we all need someplace warm and relaxing to come back to at the end of the day. The lounge bar connected to the main lobby is the ideal place for this! Whether you’re just after a cup of coffee or tea or if you’re after some refreshing alcoholic beverage this place will meet your needs. It’s very cozy with an open fire that burns throughout the whole day. My personal favorite out-of-the-drink selection is the hot chocolate that truly warms you up from the inside, and if you’re in the mood to spice things up you can add a shot of Bailey's, Yum! ​ But the reason why I put this as the reason 10 isn’t because of hot chocolate. They also have a selection of Cocktails at the lounge bar where they have taken the traditional Cocktails and added a winter Twist. How about a warm Mojito served hot? Or perhaps a Cloudberry Caipirinha? My personal favorite is the Arctic Raspberry Bomb, a perfect combination of sweet & sour made with Bramble Vodka. ​ Another favorite of mine if I had just come back from a cold winter adventure would be the Apple Crush, another warm Cocktail that reminded me of Apple Pie, Yum! Before coming to the ICEHOTEL I had never seen or even heard of warm Cocktails before and I will admit that I was a tad bit skeptical, but after trying them out for myself I hope I will see this concept appear on other drinks lists around the world, especially on cold destinations! Thanks for reading about Jukkasjärvi and Ice Hotel! RELATED POST: Swedish ICEHOTEL - the world's first hotel completely made of snow and ice Guest Blogger Nathalie Segelborg from Sweden blogs about Food and Travel on this site and has been with us for a long time, but she also has her own blog where she not only talks about travel but also combines the subject with another one dear to her heart, Mental health! Check out Nat Gone Global and follow on Instagram. Guide to ICE HOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden This Guide to famous and original ICE HOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden with things to do, food and activities like dog sledging, Sami Culture Museum and Aurora Borealis. ICE HOTEL itinerary here.

Oslo the capital city of Norway is what this post is all about, where we stayed, where we ate and what we did, as well as getting to or from the airport. The currency of Norway is the Norwegian Krone NKK. Some of their coins have holes in the middle,traditionally this was to allow them to be carried around on a rope with a knot of either end and the tradition has stuck. Norway is part of the Schengen Area, which means that once your travel documents have been checked in a member country no further checks are carried out when travelling to other member countries, useful if you want to take in Copenhagen in Denmark as part of the same trip, this is easily achieved by taking the DFDS ferry between the two overnight. Guest Blogger: Colin Tierney, blogtraveleat Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purshasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra. It will though give us a small comission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travellers to explore our world together. Comfort Hotel Xpress, Youngstorget The hotel itself is about a five minute walk to Oslo city centre, it took us about 20 minutes to walk from the ferry terminal to the Hotel and it is about a 10 minute walk from the Central Train station, so it is ideally located far enough out of the city to be nice and quiet at night but not too far that you need to get public transport to get there. We arrived at around 10:30 to 11am which was earlier than we had planned, but we thought we would see if we could check in early, normal check in time was 3pm.  For a small fee we could check in early. This was reasonable as we wanted to drop off our bags before we went to explore and it was on a similar par to left luggage costs. The hotel itself feels modern and probably more geared towards younger travellers, but there was a good mix of age groups staying at the hotel. The hotel is also secure as you need to use your key card to access the stair well or the elevators to get to your room. ​ There are a couple of pieces of modern art as you enter the hotel, which have been damaged, there is a note next to the display advising that as a mark of respect they have been left this way as they were damaged during the attack which happened in Oslo on 22nd July 2011. The Room The door locks are different to the electronic ones I have encountered before, this one you swipe the card at the lock, similar to Contactless technology and this unlocks the door, you need to follow the same procedure when you leave to lock it again, it does not automatically lock behind you. Your key card is also used in a slot by the door to activate the electrics in the room. The room is of an adequate size with a modern minimalistic feel, it also has air conditioning and a large TV which shows UK programs with Norwegian subtitles. The bathroom is a wet room which comes with underfloor heating which is really nice. The bed is really comfy to sleep in. Even though there is a double bed, it comes with two single duvets, this seems to be another European thing, which works quiet well as you get a duvet each and saves on arguments. We requested extra pillows which were brought up to the room very quickly. For stays less than four days your room is not cleaned, if you want it to be cleaned then you can ask for it at reception and there is a small charge to pay. This didn't bother us we were only staying a couple of days and we are not the messy types. there are no tea of coffee making facilities in the room, which seems to be standard for European hotels, but there is a bar downstairs which serves tea and coffee. Breakfast The hotel itself does not have the facility where you can purchase a breakfast in advance, but it does offer a small selection of breakfast items downstairs in the bar/reception. We decided to try the breakfast bag; this consisted of a Egg sandwich, an apple, a yoghurt pot and a small carton of fruit juice, along with this you also got a cup of tea or coffee. The breakfast was very nice and filling, the coffee and teas are also very nice. We would definitely stay here again if we were to visit Oslo again, it is in a good location with a short walk to the city centre, the hotel is modern and clean and quiet at night just what you need for a peaceful sleep. If you are visiting Oslo I would highly recommend staying here. Things to See in Oslo There are plenty of things to do in Oslo, some can be reached via a short walk and some may need public transport to get you there. Some things will cost you an entry free and some are free. If you want to visit lots of museums and make use of the public transport look at the Oslo City Card.  You will find the a lot of the museums are small and specific to their subject, with most taking between 45 minutes to an hour to look round. This is rather refreshing as you don't get information overload or bored as sometimes happens in larger museums which cover a wider array of topics. Below are the places we chose to visit but there are still plenty more. Here is our Oslo itinerary for a short stay. Oslo City Card Just a quick word on the Oslo City Card. I would definitely recommend considering it, for a fee this gives you free access to Museums and Attractions, as well as use of the public transport system. It also offers discounts on food and other attractions. It is worth considering, but I would work out before hand whether it is going to be beneficial for you. This is a personal recommendation based on my experience of the card, I am not paid for recommending it. If you want to find out more information just search for Oslo City Card. The Bygdøy Museums There are a number of museums at Bygdøy, this is about a 30 minute bus ride away from Oslo near the Rådhuset. You will need to take the number 30 bus, during high season there is also a ferry which can take you across. If you have an Oslo City Card these are included so you will not need to pay anymore. The main museums at Bygdøy are: •    Viking Ship Museum •    Norwegian Folk Museum •    Holocaust Centre •    Polar Fram Museum •    KonTiki Museum •    Norsk Maritime Museum It is well worth planning your visit as some museums are located near each other, most will take you around an hour to go round. Below are reviews of the museums we visits. Kon Tiki Museum The Kon Tiki Museum is based on the Norwegian explorer Thor Hyerdahl, it covers the boats he sailed in. It has the original Kon-Tiki boat, which he used to prove his theory about Peruvians being able to reach Polynesia as well as a model of the Ra. He filmed the voyage of him and his six crew, which he won an oscar for in 1954 for Best Documentary. The museum has excellent facilities you can purchase hot drinks from reception, which you then make yourself, the toilets are clean and modern. It also has a little gift shop. The museum itself is really easy to follow around with small readable snippets of information on the way, it also has displays for children to keep them occupied. It also has a good selection of exhibits alongside the boats and the original Oscar. Another bonus for the museum is that is has multi-lingual displays. Where to Eat in Oslo Nilsen Spiseri On returning to the restaurant after our earlier recon of the place, we go inside and are told to sit at whichever table where we like, I chose the one near the widow as we like to watch the world go by. The restaurant is fairly quiet with a couple of other guests.  The seating in the raised area looks like old train seats with a luggage rack overhead and worn leather covers, it certainly adds to the ambiance, by the side of the bar there is also a darts area.  Looking around it looks to be modelled on a old steam liner ship. The lighting is subdued and gives a nice warm and comfortable feel to the place. We place our order of Reindeer Stew and the Pollock Special, along with a bottle of water.  The meals are obviously cooked fresh to order as there is a little wait for them to be delivered. Both meals were amazingly tasty, I especially enjoyed my reindeer stew, I eat venison back home so there is not much difference other than a more earthier taste due to the vegetation they eat in Norway versus the UK, the vegetables that both dishes came with were cooked to perfection. I also like the cracker bread which came with my stew. The red sauce which came with the dish also complimented it very well. We finished the meal off  with a shared plate of waffles with jam and cream, these are so much nicer than the waffles back home and were very enjoyable. I had mine with an Americano which was also very nice. Despite what I had read about the cost of eating out in Oslo, the meal wasn't as expensive as I thought. Fiskeriet, Youngstorget We found this little place in a square near our hotel in Youngstorget. It is only a small place which is split into two, one half is a fishmongers/ fish shop serving a cornucopia of fresh fish and related goods and fresh vegetables, the other is the restaurant which has a counter which you can sit at and a small number of tables.  We decided to sit at the counter and order two coffees and fish and chips twice, the girl behind the counter brings over two glass of water and a coffee. ​ We then decided to hang out coats off the stools like the locals as there seemed to be no coat hooks. There is a small wait while they cook our order, the place is very busy with all the tables full and most of the bar seats as well, there is also a steady flow of bike riders collecting deliveries. ​ We are served our fish and chips which come on a tray with greaseproof paper in the bottom. Unlike British fish and chips they come with pickles on the side, which are refreshing and cut through the oil which the fish and chips are cooked in.  The fish batter is lighter and of a different texture to the batter back home, but it is nice, enjoyable and less greasy and the chips are crisp and amazing. Not that we had much interaction with the staff but of that we did they were polite and friendly and spoke good English. Fish and chips was not only the thing on the menu there were plenty of other dishes to choose from. Flytoget Oslo to Oslo Gardermoen Airport Express I had done some research before we left and had found the Flytoget service which is a dedicated Airport Train between Oslo and Oslo Gardermoen Airport. They even have an app which is worth downloading if only get to real time departure details. As our trip had taken us from Copenhagen to Oslo by ferry we only used the service the once. The standard prices is 200NK which is around £20, if you use the app or the self service machines it only costs 180NK so you get to save around £2, but as these need a debit or credit card to use them you will probably have to pay a overseas transaction fee and a percentage. At the train station there is good signage for the airport express service. There is a bank of self-service ticket machines that you can purchase tickets from, which are easy to use and can be displayed in English. The one thing I also liked about the ticketing area is that they have self-service machines for airline check in, which removed some of the hassle at the airport as we only had carry on luggage. The Trains The trains are very modern and stylish, the inside of the carriages are modelled on an aircraft with all the seats facing forward, they have nice heating on board, which was good as it had been cold and snowing all day when we got on board. Once the train sets off there are safety announcement as well as airplane style safety cards next to the seats. The carriage also has a big TV in the centre of it, displaying again the safety information, airport information such as flight status and the queue times at security as well as local news and adverts. I really like where they have thought about it and tried to make it look and feel like an aircraft. The journey is very quick and smooth with only one stop en-route. Arrival Once you arrive at the airport, there are automated ticket barriers which read the QR code on your tickets. There is also a booth if you need to purchase a ticket. Once you are through the ticket barriers there are escalators which deliver you right into the Airport. Author and Food Travel Writer Colin Tierney from blogtraveleat started travelling quiet late in life and decided to blog about his Food Travels, eating and exploring his destinations as a local and share his experiences in the blog to help others but also let his Food Travel Blog work as an aide memoir. Visit blogtraveleat and follow on Instagram. Oslo Review This is a Guide to Oslo with reviews on what to see, what to do and what to eat in the Capitol of Norway - Oslo. Visit Oslo and discover the norwegian hospitality, Oslo sightseeing and Oslo Food. #oslo #norway #osloreview #whattosee #whattodo #whattoeat #capitolofnorway #norwayoslo #visitoslo #norwegian #hospitality #oslosightseeing #oslofood

Being totally Foodies (but also working professionally as a Chef de Cuisine and Waitress) one of our strongest reasons to travel is to explore new food cultures. In this guide, you'll find some of the best food spots we discovered in Bangkok to eat Streetfood but also a quick stop in Buriram for Song Kran festive foods and some Resort food on the islands. If you love the genuine and traditional food you can find in Streetfood throughout the world we hope you find this small guide from Sticks & Spoons helpful when traveling for food in Thailand. Guest Blogger: Fredrik Goldhahn, Sticks & Spoons Food Travel Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purchasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra. It will though give us a small commission which will help this site remain a free resource for travelers to explore our world together. Streetfood Hub near Nana Plaza and Siam Square We traveled to Thailand in April (which is summertime in Thailand so it was pretty hot all the time) for a three-week-long vacation. We were jumping between the big city of Bangkok to Sticks small hometown Buriram in the North East part of Thailand, then to two of Thailand's Paradise Islands; Koh Chang and Koh Mak but to finish our Thailand trip once again back in Bangkok. So this Streetfood Guide will be covering some of the highlights of our journey. ​ We love eating; no doubt about that. It's pretty much the only thing we plan thoroughly back home before making a trip. And we use several ways to plan where to eat next. One of them is reading Food Blogs from equally devoted Foodtravellers like us and we also read a lot of Travel Guides and Magazines online. So; prepare for a food coma - let's eat! #1 Exploring the Streetfood scene in Bangkok Nana Plaza and Siam Square are great foodie spots to start at while exploring the vibrant Streetfood scene around Planchit Road and the City Centre! Here you'll find fresh fruit stands, food carts serving grilled skewers, and small open street-side restaurants cooking fresh fish, octopus, and shellfish over open fire coal grills with just some plastic chairs and tables directly on the street basically. We also had the luck to find a kind of Foodcourt (or Streetfood Hub) where a lot of locals eat their lunch and that's always a promising sign! Fruit Vendor in Nana Grilled fish and shellfish street food, Nana Bangkok Really good ingredients for being Streetfood ones! Chicken Stand Delicious Quail Eggs on the Chatuchak Weekend Market #2 Chatuchak Weekend Market At Chatuchak Weekend Market you can buy almost anything at low prices making this market one of the most popular for shopping in Bangkok and a "must-visit" for tourists! You can go there by Skytrain. ​ It's also famous for being quite a good food market. We actually didn't buy much more than food and some of the street food dishes were super! We had some really delicious quail eggs freshly fried with just salad and spices - so good! Another dish we enjoyed at the market (and several times on our Thailand journey) was Meang Kam! Those small and spicy green packages are a favorite snack while strolling around Chatuchak Market. Don't miss the Nr 1 Duck Noodle Stand of Chatuchak or all dessert stands with traditional Thai sweets. Grab some lime ice tea (cha manau) and enjoy the crowdy and busy market! Fish Quenelles on Chatachak Market Succulent Duck from No 1 Duck Stand Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand #3 Chinatown Chinatown in Bangkok is one of the oldest and biggest Chinatowns in the World. It was founded back in 1782 and is often just called or referred to as "Yaowarat" after the main road going through the entire area; Yaowarat Road. ​ This place is truly a Streetfood Paradise! The amount of Streetfood stands is massive and you find everything within just minutes of walking on Yaowarat Road and the adjacent roads and alleys. When going here we suggest you come hungry. Very hungry! The best and busiest time for street food is usually from five in the afternoon until late. Of course, you can go much earlier and avoid the most hectic times but then you also miss out on some of the fun with street food! Narrow alleys with hidden gems In Chinatown, most of the Streetfood is of a really good quality. You can find any kind of food here and you might need a second visit to be able to explore everything (at some time you get stuffed as well!). You should take some detours and go through crowded alleys (or even dark dens) to find gems. Some paths ain't pretty but can be worth daring walking! Dried Squids in Chinatown, Bangkok Streetfood Prawns on Yaowarat Road, Chinatown in Bangkok Taking a longer walkabout from Chinatown we stumbled on a charming couple making super tasty squids and octopus. And having the coolest outfit! #4 Buriram Song Kran Festival Streetfood We went to Sticks hometown Buriram in the North East of Thailand for a family reunion! We had such a great time with her family and friends! And of course, that includes a lot of food! A lot. So much that even Spoons (who live and breathe food 24/7) went into a shock! The Buriram Food Eating Traditions are hard to beat! Read about that and eat the infamous Ant Salad here! ​ There are two big markets in Buriram; the Morning Market (starting as early as four!) and the Night Market (open late obviously). We went to both of course. Sticks made some "power shopping" on the Morning Market and for the Night Market, we were quite stuffed, to say the least, but had one of the better Streetfood dishes so far! A simple omelet with mussels and oysters became a food memory for life! One amazing tasting omelet at the Nightmarket in Buriram, Thailand A bowl of pure deliciousness While celebrating the crazy fun Song Kran Festival(which should definitely also be experienced the traditional way) around the areas of the Thunder Castle Stadium, Chang International Circuit, and Buriram Castle we also visited the Festive Food Market. A huge area with people gathering and enjoying food. That seems like a good Festival, doesn't it? An Umami Punch in the Taste Buds anyone? We had an exceptional grilled Enoki Mushroom wrapped in bacon flavored with a traditional fish sauce and that dish needed two servings due to its deliciousness. We also had some crispy chicken, salads, and snacks with Sticks family at the Streetfood Market. The Buriram Food Scene isn't as versatile as in Bangkok for obvious reasons but we had great traditional Isan food and good times with Sticks family so kind of sad as we went for the next food destination. #5 Koh Mak "Streetfood" We had to have this entry in our Streetfood Guide! Going to Koh Chang and then Koh Mak was more about chilling on the beach, diving, sunbathing, and exploring the islands but especially at Seavana Beach Resort we had great food! The food was like a refined version of traditional Thai kitchens but also with a Streetfood feeling on some dishes. The restaurant at the hotel and resort is brilliant and we managed to eat our way through the menu in just two days! One instant food favorite was the Meang Kam (once again) and the spicy prawns. We made a short stop again on Koh Chang after Koh Mak enjoying Island Life before going back to Bangkok and a real Streetfood Gem! Spicy Prawn Soup #6 The Queen of Streetfood in Bangkok - Raan Jay Fai We had read so much about Jay Fai online, heard stories, seen video clips, and were more than psyched to visit her side-street restaurant and experience her street food. Known as the most expensive Streetfood at the time we didn't get discouraged more than our own expectations of her might be too high. We couldn't be more wrong! ​ This 71 year young Lady (she's 72 now) has been cooking at the same spot for over 60 years - her Mom owned the Restaurant at first and Jay Fai was only 11 years old when she started to cook! And the last 30 years every day in her now iconic outfit with ski googles and knitted cap she has made this restaurant legendary! We ordered the infamous Crab Omelette and the Drunken Noodles from the menu and sure it was expensive but then, of course, the show is included! While Spoons were mesmerized and in awe over Jay Fai's respect for the ingredients and perfect timing (with just two woks!) Sticks were amused hearing her gabble and nag in Thai on her team while cooking! ​ And the food...we were blown off the chair! It was truly something we hadn't experienced on a Streetfood level before and we were just overwhelmed by the taste, texture, THE SIZE of those dishes, and the love put into them. For us as professionals in the restaurant business LOVE is the "6th Ground Taste"! We know; it's not even a "taste" yet it's crucial to make an ordinary dinner extraordinary and almost as hard as Umami to put a finger on. We have thought about it as a "Ground Taste" for a long time. There's magic happening when a chef love to cook; with the balance that unfolds in the depths of tastes, within the perfectly shaped ingredients and perfectly timed textures that pervasive the actual presentations. That's the closest description we've come up with yet on what we think is one of the most elemental of Ground Tastes. We came up with it while eating at another lovely establishment; Paste in Bangkok but Jay Fai put this Ground Taste to new and higher levels. So for us, it wasn't strange at all when Jay Fai was awarded one Michelin Star 2018!  ​ So. Whatever you do when in Bangkok; be sure to take that extra cash from your travel budget and put it on some heavenly executed and utterly delicious Michelin Starred Street food at Raan Jay Fai! It's totally worth it! A Crab Omelette out of this World! Worth every one of the 800 baht (might be more now) that it costs! Excellent Drunken Noodles with Prawns the size of thumbs! Another forever food memory was that we had a long chat with Madame Jay Fai afterward dinner! She had gone for some own food after service but Spoons insisted that Sticks had to tell her in Thai what a "halleluja moment" we have had eating her food. Even though she rudely was interrupted by us during her meal she instantly laid the bowl aside and took us to the kitchen, explained how she thought about food, showed how her kitchen was equipped, and just talked about things that made her happy; good health, family, wonderful guests, the small things in life that gave her energy to continue and other trivial things. This Lady! From Chef to Chef you are a true inspiration and we are your biggest fans! After dinner, we went back to the hotel in silence with goosebumps. Our respect and admiration for Jay Fai had even deepened and we hope that she has many, many years of great cooking to come, blessing her guests with deliciousness! Our dinner at Raan Jay Fai is one of the better food memories yet and we hope we can go back soon again! ​RELATED POST: Jay Fai - The Queen of Bangkok Streetfood Funny to find that Streetfood Enthusiast and Super YouTuber Mark Wiens (2,1 million subscribers!) went to Jay Fai and eat the same dishes we did! It's worth watching for sure and he describes the dishes brilliantly as always! Sticks & Spoons Best Streetfood Explorer Tips! Keep an eye on where the locals eat if you want to experience genuine, traditional Thai Cuisine! Some streetcorners with food stands are empty of locals while others are packed and people stand in lines - there's a reason for that! ​ Don't know what to eat if there are several selections? Ask anyone in the queue or even the chef for their own favorite to eat or cook! That usually pays out. While asking; ask also if they can give you any tips on other great Streetfood Spots! ​ Be Bold and Adventurous! You can always eat "anything" at least once! Use common sense and don't eat where it's obvious that hygiene isn't the vendors' first priority or where food seems to have been ready for hours on the side of the heat. Otherwise - go for it if it looks tasty! If cooked at the order it's probably as good as eating in a restaurant - if not even better! Join a Streetfood Tour! Even if it's exciting to discover Streetfood on your own - joining a Local Guide can be a great move. And enjoying food with Foodies like yourself can bring memories and new friends for life. ​ Don't judge the Book by its Cover! Some places may look a little sketchy or even shabby. We have seen our fair share of those places. But they can also be a hidden gem in their roughness so be open-minded and you'll often get rewarded!  ​ Hope you enjoyed our Streetfood Guide to some of our Gems in Bangkok, Buriram, and Koh Mak! Jane and Fredrik Goldhahn are Food Travel Writers blogging on Sticks & Spoons Food Travel; two devoted Foodies and a Travel Couple from Sweden, travel for food. Recently joined by their daughter in their mission to Travel to every new Destination to Explore Food. Visit Sticks & Spoons Food Travel and follow them on Instagram! Streetfood Guide Thailand Capitol of Streetfood; Bangkok in Thailand, together with Streetfood Foodie Spots in Buriram and Koh Mak Island in Thailand, is covered in this Streetfood Guide. Find Streetfood in Bangkok and Thailand here. #streetfood #bangkok #buriram #thailandislands #jayfai #raanjayfai #queenofbangkokstreetfood #traditionalthaicuisine #eatstreetfood #streetfoodspots #streetfoodgem #streetfoodguide #foodcourt #localeats #ducknoodlestand #songkranfestivalfood #yaowarat #chinatown #chatuchakweekendmarket #wherethelocalseat #morningmarket #nightmarket #foodtravellers #wheretoeat #foodmarket #chinatownbangkok #streetfoodmarket #chinatownbangkokstreetfood #sticksandspoons #capitolofstreetfood #streetfoodbangkok #bangkokinthailand #kohmak #streetfoodguide #bangkokstreetfood

Guest Blogger: Barbora Guobyte, Often Out of Office Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purchasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra. It will though give us a small commission which will help this site remain a free resource for travelers to explore our world together. Admiring Jökulsárlón-Glacier Lagoon Hike the secluded paths at the top of Skogafoss waterfall Our favorite waterfall in all of Iceland is called Skogafoss. Although its sheer size makes it a marvel to look at, we loved it even more after discovering the secret hiking trails that run for miles along the top of the waterfall. Once you climb the staircase on the right-hand side of the waterfall, follow the paths along the running water of the waterfall and you shall be rewarded with the most spectacular views of the mountains and get to witness just where the waterfall’s water all comes from. And the best part is, we hiked for about 2 hours and saw about 4 people that entire time! More on other stops on our trip - here. Don’t pass up the opportunity to shop for snacks for the entire trip whilst at a Reykjavik BONUS Supermarket! Iceland is one of the more expensive destinations out there.  Having a very average meal for two, say two pizzas and two beers in Reykjavik will set you back about 70-80 EUR. Naturally one of the best ways to save a buck or two on your travels is to get snacks and some food at supermarkets instead of always eating out. The best option for this is Iceland’s BONUS supermarket chain. They have large stores with a wide variety of things to choose from. But the lesson here is not only that getting food from supermarkets will help you save money whilst traveling Iceland, but that in fact the amount of large supermarkets significantly decreases once you move away from Reykjavik. In fact, on the way from Reykjavik to Glacier Lagoon (Hof) all we found is smaller one-off food shops that have small variety and larger prices. A shot from a random stop along the road, driving back from Hof to Vik "Not Rushing to see everything and pacing yourself is a recipe for success!" (Often Out Of Office) Iceland is the spectacular destination that it is and offers so much to do in terms of different landscapes - I mean mountains, glaciers, lakes, craters, waterfall, hot springs. You name it! It is understandable that once you make the trip out there, you might want to see it all! For us, a full 8-day trip got us from Reykjavik to the Glacier lagoon ( near Hof), with a day spent relaxing at the blue lagoon. (Read about what we thought about the Blue Lagoon - here). That means there is still the entire northern coast left! But to be honest, our recommendation is to pace yourself. You don’t want to spend entire days in the car driving from point to point to then just get out, have a look and go back. If you want to be one of the few that have truly visited and explored all of Iceland, I’d say at least 4 weeks is necessary, but even then, having more than one visit will allow you to see Iceland in more than one season. Witnessing how the landscape differs from summer to winter is worth the trips! The grand view from Reykjavik’s Hallgrimskirkja church tower Gullfoss Waterfall More tips and our biggest lessons learned from traveling Iceland as well as tips and itineraries for other destinations can be found on our site. Guest Bloggers Often Out of Office is run by the travel couple Barbora and Karolis from Lithuania. With their blog, they show that you can combine a career and travel. They also will give you helpful travel tips on how to travel cheaper and experience more. Visit Often Out of Office and follow them on their Instagram. Iceland Guide Traveling to Iceland and discovering the Icelandic culture is on many travelers' bucket list. The Capitol on Iceland; Reykjavik, the Iceland Nature Experiences with the mysterious Icelandic Folklore make Iceland a top travel destination. #iceland #icelandguide #icelandicculture #travellersbucketlist #capitoloficeland #reykjavik #icelandnature #icelandicfolklore #icelandatoptraveldestination

The sky is a dusty blue as I make my way along the rather ominous sounding Desert Highway from Jordan’s shimmering Red Sea coast. Even at this early hour, I can feel the searing Middle Eastern sun radiating through the bus window. Ahead, the sun dances and gleams off the jet black tarmac, like reflections on a fast-flowing river. All around, mountains rise up dramatically, their sheer sides and craggy outcrops menacing and imposing at the same time. This lonesome, inhospitable landscape, seems ill-suited to all but the hardiest of souls. Author and Food Travel Writer: Pearce Gunne-Jones, Xcapia Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purchasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra. It will though give us a small commission which will help this site remain a free resource for travelers to explore our world together. My reverie is broken by the sharp turn of the bus, as it turns off the main highway and towards my ultimate destination, the fabled ancient civilization of Petra. Nothing fills me with more excitement but also nervous trepidation at the thought of venturing into this almost mythical place. My nervousness stems from an inner fear that my idealized view of Petra will be compromised by the reality of mass tourism, tour groups, and tacky souvenirs. I feel somewhat apprehensive as the bus draws closer. The highway slowly ascends as we near our destination. Down below, hidden amongst the valleys and canyons lies Petra. The bus meanders its way through countless low-rise buildings and chaotic streets, vibrant with life. Here, everyday life carries on, side by side with the remains of this ancient civilization. Before long, the modern entrance to Petra is within sight; advertising boards in multiple languages reflect the international appeal of this iconic site. Beyond the ticketed entrance, there is an assortment of souvenir stalls, eateries, and energetic sellers brandishing the finest of Petra-related kitsch – stuffed camel anyone? Beginning the descent, local Bedouin approach offering camel rides and horse and cart excursions. It is an unassuming start as the path gently descends. Before long, however, the small outcrops of rock became larger and more dramatic and the path meanders its way around these towering natural phenomena. The Nabateans as a civilization are cloaked in mystery and intrigue. No one is sure from where they originated, some say from the area now known as Yemen, others the eastern regions of the Arabian peninsula. What is widely accepted, however, is the ingenuity and engineering feat of these people who created a sophisticated water run-off management system in this aridest of locations. Even today, one can make out the intricate water channels they cut into the rock, testament to how advanced they really were. The mystery of their subsequent disappearance and abandonment of Petra is therefore the more intriguing. The anticipation builds, as the path narrows and as the rock face on either side becomes steeper. Intricate patterns emerge in the rock, near marble-like in their appearance. As I progress, I look up to the sky, which is now just a slither of blue between the rock. Having gained infamy from the Indiana Jones movie, The Last Crusade, the Treasury building is surely amongst the greatest sights of Petra. It epitomizes the ingenuity and prowess of this famed civilization. Through a mere crack in the rock face, I catch my first tantalizing glimpse of the Treasury, its sand-colored façade lit up by the sun. A few steps further and the Treasury is revealed in all its glory. The sudden opening in the rock creates a natural amphitheater. Its regal columns and fine detailing are reflective of the skilled craftsmen. Historians are divided over the purpose of the Treasury and how it might have been used. This natural square represents the hub of modern-day Petra. Tourists jostle for the best selfie angle, trying to crop out as many of their fellow tourists as possible in the process. Amongst the hustle of activity, camels sit idly in the center, often shrouded in Bedouin rugs. They look around unimpressed, for naturally, they have seen this all before. Onwards beyond the Treasury, other structures are less intact but no less astounding. The theatre, tiers cut into the rock, countless tombs up high, the monastery, and colonnaded street. One could quite easily spend several days exploring and finding corners of this immense site where your only companion may be the occasional passing camel. Amongst the many stalls that are set up amongst the remains, I notice prints on the display of the works of David Roberts. Perhaps no one has made a greater contribution to the image of Petra within the public psyche than this Scottish oil painter from Stockbridge. From Petra’s discovery by Johann Burckhardt in 1812, Roberts’ contribution transformed public awareness in the nineteenth century from what was once a distant, unfamiliar place, to a recognizable landmark on a par with the Sphinx or the Pyramids. Historic views and perceptions of Petra were undoubtedly shaped by Roberts’ work. The rock faces of Petra gradually turn all hues of orange as sunset approaches. One can easily appreciate the artistic inspiration that this place has provided to generations of artists and photographers. If I had a canvas and paint to hand, I would use some Burnt Sienna perhaps, with a touch of Indian Yellow. As the day draws to a close, it is a sign that it is now time for me to leave Petra. Whilst retracing my steps past the Treasury building, my mind wanders to the one question surely every visitor finds themselves asking. Why did the Nabateans ever leave this place? A place where they engineered water management within an arid desert landscape, a place where they created such building feats as the Treasury out of the sheer rock face. The more I consider this question, however, the more I conclude that in some ways, I would rather we didn’t know. For what would history be without some mystery and intrigue, and Petra certainly has that in abundance. Walking towards the entrance gate, I discover that my shoes have become encrusted with Petra sandstone. Perhaps it is my inner Indiana Jones that makes me want to never clean these shoes again. Guest Blogger Xcapia is a Travel Website created by Pearce Gunne-Jones and designed to give you an insight into Global Destinations - both familiar ones and new ones. Xcapia will show how well-traveled destinations still can be experienced with new eyes as they are ever-changing. Visit Xcapia and follow on Instagram. Petra in Jordan is one of the worlds most famous historical sites. If you visit Jordan a trip to Petra is a must-do. The Nabateans and Petra Civilization is both mysterious and intriguing so experience history of Petra in Jordan here. #petrainjordan #jordan #famoushistoricalsites #visitjordan #triptopetra #nabateans #petracivilzation #experiencehistoryofpetra #historyofpetrainjordan

I was staying in the ginseng country for about four months as an exchange student and I have visited some of the most famous tourist destinations in Seoul and Busan. And in this opportunity, I would like to tell you my adventures as I traveled back through time to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, two of the most “must-visit” places in Korea. Guest Blogger: Tyas Wahyu Pramesti, Weps Gallery Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate we also earn from qualifying purchases. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purshasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra - it probably will save you some bucks. It will though give us a small comission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travellers to explore our world together. Gyeongbokgung Palace Gyeongbokgung Palace is a royal palace built in 1395 and served as the main palace during the Joseon Dynasty. According to the VisitSeoul website, it was the first and the largest palace out of the Five Grand Palaces. The others are Gyeonghuigung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace. It is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and is the furthest north of the other palaces. Some parts of the palace were destroyed during the Japanese invasion in 1500s but were later rebuilt in 1800s. ​ The palace is listed among the popular tourist destinations in Korea, along with the Bukchon Hanok Village. And the good news is, they are located in the same area, so it is close to travel back and forth between these two places! It was a good decision to explore both Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village in a day. Gyeongbokgung Palace is a royal palace built in 1395 and served as the main palace during the Joseon Dynasty. According to the VisitSeoul website, it was the first and the largest palace out of the Five Grand Palaces. The others are Gyeonghuigung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace. It is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and is the furthest north of the other palaces. Some parts of the palace were destroyed during the Japanese invasion in 1500s but were later rebuilt in 1800s. ​ The palace is listed among the popular tourist destinations in Korea, along with the Bukchon Hanok Village. And the good news is, they are located in the same area, so it is close to travel back and forth between these two places! It was a good decision to explore both Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village in a day. Us in hanbok! One Day in Hanbok I researched a little bit about hanbok rental places in Jongno and found a lot of information about them. There are indeed many hanbok rentals you’ll find in the surrounding areas, so you might want to know which is the best place to rent a hanbok. Fortunately, one of my friends had already tried it before and she told me about the hanbok rental place. It’s called the “One Day Hanbok”. One Day Hanbok is located just a few minute walk from Anguk Station. It has a Facebook page that you can check out if you want to know what kind of hanbok they have. It’s not that hard to find the place, since they have a big “One Day Hanbok” sign written on the wall of their building’s second floor and you can see it from the streets. I attached a map here just in case you need it! How to get to One Day Hanbok from Anguk Station Exit 2 I had made an online reservation in advance by sending an email to One Day Hanbok (it’s on their Facebook page), to avoid queues. The hanbok are super pretty and you get to rent it for 4 hours for only 15,000 won. That’s a good price, I can say, for in other rental places you have to pay 10,000 won for only 1 hour, or around 20,000 won for 4 hours and so on. However, you will need to pay an additional 2,000 won for each accessory you wear, such as the small handbag, hair ornaments, or a crinoline slip to make the gown poofy. I added a crinoline slip and did not regret it since the poofy hanbok gown looked adorable! Before we set our adventures down the streets, we paid the amount of money for the hanbok plus an additional 10,000 won for deposit. Don’t worry, you can get the deposit money back after you’re done! Just keep in mind to not damage the hanbok! We were finally all dressed up and ready for the journey back through time to Joseon Dynasty. And in no time, off we went and bid our farewell to 2018! Okay, before that, one more thing, I’d like to tell you that it’s best to plan the routes carefully so that you won’t waste any time. I had the routes in mind, with an assistance from a tourist information center nearby. She gave me a map of Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace and suggested that we went around the village first and finally the palace. But I changed the routes, since the hanbok rental place is closer to the village, I thought it’d be best to explore the village at the end, just before we returned the hanbok. Our time travel machine dropped us off at the Eastern part of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where there is a gate to get into the National Folk Museum. It then connects to the palace’s entrance gate. Since we were wearing hanbok, we got into the palace for free! I don’t remember the exact amount of the ticket fee, but it should be around 3,000 – 4,000 won. Well, even though it’s not necessary to wear hanbok to enter the palace, I still think that wearing one can make people blend in and feel like they are part of the palace. I did feel that way! Like a maiden or a noble lady playing around in the palace grounds. The first few places that I saw were medium-sized buildings with several rooms inside, with the same architecture. I wonder if there are any slight differences in the architecture though, since each building had its own purpose in serving the King’s orders. Gyeonghoeru Pavilion In the middle of the Gyeongbokgung Palace lies the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion on a peaceful man-made pond. It was built and once used for entertainment when important foreign visitors visited the palace. First built in 1412, the pavilion was burnt down by the Japanese in 1592 during the Imjin War. Later, it was rebuilt in 1867 and is still standing until today. On the railings of the bridge that leads to the pavilion, there are stone animal sculptures, which were created to keep the evil spirits away. Today, visitors can go inside the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion by making an online reservation in advance. Gyeonghoeru Pavilion After taking enough pictures of the pavilion, we walked further inside and managed to find the Geunjeongjeon Hall, which stood grandly in the middle of a vast courtyard. Geunjeongjeon Hall is the main throne hall of the palace. It was also rebuilt in 1867 as a result of destruction by the Japanese. I tried to take a look inside the hall and saw a throne seat, most likely for the King, just like what I saw in Korean dramas. This hall was indeed used for special ceremonies such as the King’s coronation and political affairs such as meetings, managing state affairs, and holding receptions for foreign visitors and dignitaries. Surrounding the Geunjeongjeon Hall are the tall red pillars, one of the most popular spots for taking pictures in the palace! We took a lot of pictures there and the results turned out lovely. It looked as if we were the princess’ friends just playing around and having fun, while waiting for our “noble parents” who were attending a meeting with the King. Gyeonghoeru Pavilion Bukchon Hanok Village We decided that it’d be best to end the palace exploration and to start exploring the Bukchon Hanok Village. With a map in hand, I led my small group (of my roommate and my Peruvian friend, since we were separated from the others). The map was helpful as it showed some spots of the village that are perfect for taking pictures. It also provided a recommended route of the main streets of the village. You can get this map at the Bukchon Tourist Information Center! Starting off from the furthest north part of the village, we walked down to the South, following the instructions on the map. We could already see the hanok houses from above. It was a magnificent view and feeling, to think that there was a place like the village as a part of the metropolitan city of Seoul. After walking for 5 to 10 minutes, we eventually arrived at the main street. Many people were already there taking pictures with the hanok houses as the background. Most of them were wearing hanbok, which made it seem like we were actually traveling back through time. I couldn’t resist not taking pictures of the stunning main street, with hanok houses standing on its sides. My roommate and my Peruvian friend also helped me take pictures on the street and in front of the houses. Two Korean girls approached us and asked for help to take their pictures and eventually asked for a picture together. They were also wearing hanbok and they looked super lovely! And even though there were many tourists there, they maintained to keep their voices low to respect the residents. That’s the spirit! Not only hanok houses, you can also find ice cream shops and cafes in the village! They all looked delicious, not to mention refreshing, since the day was hot and dry. However, at that time I was still fasting so I could only imagine the taste, hah! Next time I go there; I’d be sure to try the ice cream! If you’re like me, who is fond of collecting postcards and keychains, the souvenir shops just near the Bukchon Tourist Information Center will definitely satisfy your needs. I stopped and bought two postcards, which feature drawings of the hanok houses in Bukchon Hanok Village. They are indeed lovely! Three hours and a half went by quickly and I just realized it when I felt that my legs could not walk anymore. It was rather exhausting because the weather was hot and I was a bit dehydrated. However, the journey was worth the time and money! Trust me. You will not regret renting the hanbok, walking around the palace grounds, and exploring the beauty of Bukchon Hanok Village. We returned to the One Day Hanbok place half an hour before our time limit was over. After returning all the clothes and accessories and getting our deposit money back, we had dinner and went back home! How to get to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village Take the subway line 3 and get off at Anguk Station. Take the exit no. 1 or 2 and go straight for about 300m. Turn left and you will find the Bukchon Tourist Information Center where you can get a map of the village, or go straight from there to find the entrance to Bukchon Hanok Village. Find Cheap Accommodation in Seoul Guest Blogger Tyas Wahyu Pramesti is an Indonesian girl that have been studying in South Korea. At her Weps Gallery the  plan is to travel and write about Indonesia; being bitten by the Travel Bug! She want the world to know just how beautiful Indonesia is, and help tourists to pick their favorite destinations. She also plan to start cooking more and blog about food. Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village Guide This is a Guide to Gyeongbokgung Palace in South Korea. Visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Village and discover the Temple in a traditional Hanbok. This Guide to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, South Korea will show you how to get there, what to see and how to rent a Hanbok gown for cheap. #gyeongbokgung #bukchon #hanbok #southkorea #seoul #gyeongbokgungpalace #bukchonvillage #guidetogyeongbokgung #seoulsouthkorea #rentahanbok #hanbokgownforcheap Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate we also earn from qualifying purchases. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purshasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra - it probably will save you some bucks. It will though give us a small comission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travellers to explore our world together.

In 2016, I quitted my job and joined my friends on a trip traveling from the North to the Central of Vietnam through 7 destinations. That 14-day journey was one of the best trips ever in my life. And here is the schedule of my 7 Destinations on my travels from North to Central Vietnam in 14 days! Guest Blogger: Khoi Ngyen, The Broad Life Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purchasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra. It will though give us a small commission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travelers to explore our world together. Day 1–3 Riding Motorbike on Ha Giang’s Hills If you ever know or hear that Vietnam is a country with a lot of motorbikes, it’s absolutely true. And in any trip traveling around Vietnam, riding a motorbike is the most enjoyable thing. Especially when you do that activity on Ha Giang, the land with mountains, hills, and the Northernmost point of the country. ​ Traveling Ha Giang by riding a motorbike, you can see a lot of terraces alongside the land’s unique Buckwheat flower fields. Furthermore, there are top places that you can visit in 3 days such as Quan Ba with the sky gate, Dong Van with the stone plateau, H’Mong King’s palace near Meo Vac town, and Lung Cu – the Northernmost point of Vietnam. ​ Our start point was in Ha Giang city, then we took the ride around the province, through many towns, then came back to Ha Giang city as the finished point. Day 4–8 Learning the Culture of Ethnic Minority in Sa Pa Our late schedule moving to Sa Pa from Ha Giang turned out to be an enjoyable trip. We met a hotel manager who was willing to take us around Sa Pa city for dinner, and for a night walk watching the city. ​ Days later, the hotel manager introduced us to many attractions to visit around Sa Pa such as the Waterfall of Love, Fansipan Legend. He then led us to a village called Tà Phìn, where we stayed, lived, and learned a lot about the culture of the land’s ethnic minority. We even joined a wedding, which was really hard to meet, in the village. ​ Anyway, with ethnic minorities in our Sa Pa trip, their food was so great, the herbal bath was awesome, and the time staying with them was so experienced. Day 9–10 Ninh Binh, the capital of culture in Vietnam We moved to the Capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, to prepare for our trip going to the Middle. Nevertheless, it would be a regret if we missed out Ninh Binh, the very cultural destination of the country. As a result, our 10th day is fully dedicated to the land. ​ If you haven’t ever known about Ninh Binh, you may want to watch Kong: Skull Island before your visit. The scene is from the beautiful land of rocks, mountains, and the river where you are in the ride of a boat by the locals to watch around. Ninh Binh is also home to the Trang An Landscape, a World Heritage Site inscribed by UNESCO. Day 11–12 The modern Da Nang, and the old town of Hoi An Usually, people who come to the Middle of Vietnam visiting the 2 cities the most, Danang and Hoi An. If Da Nang is the worthiest living city in the country, Hoi An with its ancient town is the worthiest visiting place in Vietnam. ​ Actually, we came to Da Nang for a food tour mainly, and it was so great enjoying the cuisine. We spent more time at Hoi An ancient town, where we discovered one of the oldest villages of the country. At every corner, the town is beautiful with its dedicated yellow color and flowers making it somehow a romantic destination. Hoi An cuisine is also one of the top attractions. Furthermore, the town is a World Heritage Site. Day 13–14 The hidden coastal city, Quy Nhon I would say it was hidden as Quy Nhon wasn’t exploited a lot for tourists, which was a reason making it a true gem of the Middle of Vietnam. The city was quieter and slowly compared to other places. However, Quy Nhon still had its attractions with many beautiful beaches, and especially the foods were so delicious and affordable. The Broad Life Food and Travel Blog is built with the fire and desire to inspire people to go exploring the world and live a more interesting and adventurous life when traveling. Most of the Travels take place in Asia but you'll find more Destinations in the blog. Visit The Broad Life and follow on Instagram. Vietnam Travel Vietnam Travel Guide from the Northern parts of Vietnam to Central Vietnam in just 14 days! Find a Itinerary to Vietnam with vietnamese destinations and sights, things to do in Vietnam, what to see in Vietnam and more in this Vietnam Guide. #vietnam #vietnamtravelguide #northernpartsofvietnam #centralvietnam #itinerarytovietnam #vietnamesedestinations #thingstodoinvietnam #whattoseeinvietnam #vietnamguide

If breakfast isn’t your favorite meal or not that important to start your day, Taiwan might make you revisit that and turn this morning meal into the fuel for you to get exploring around this island. ​ Guest Blogger: Yone Liau, Flavour Journey Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purchasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra. It will though give us a small commission which will help this site remain a free resource for travelers to explore our world together. Taiwanese people will be very proud to say that their cuisine is one of the best and my memories of when I used to travel here to visit relatives or Chinese New Year somehow involved me gaining weight. The queue then my Asian parents questioned my weight and exercise choices. Nonetheless, I didn’t and still don’t regret any bite of what I get to eat now here in Taiwan. I’ve also learned that the key is to reserve the carb loading (at least for my metabolism) for the mornings. For the true old-school Taiwanese, a morning breakfast might be a bowl of braised rice also known as 肉燥飯. But others, like me, were born abroad and only certain dishes were available because grandma or any other relative, know a friend you might recognize the good old combo of soy milk and egg pancake. ​ Fair warning, you might need more than one day in Taiwan to gorge yourself on all these morning goodies. Or better yet if you want to try out a morning breakfast marathon, find your best foodie mates and from 5:30 am in Taiwan, the breakfast shops are ready to get you on your way filled with energy to spare. To have an idea of what is in store here are some of the most common breakfast dishes; ​ Congee - 粥 Usually, this is a bit of an all-day dish but for some places, if you’re looking for something not too heavy and will still give you some sense of nourishment. Some might find it ‘boring’ to eat a bowl of rice gruel but the real flavor magic that happens is with the side dishes. Maybe don’t start off with the pork floss (肉鬆) but work your way up, maybe with some pickled cucumbers, miso tofu, chili bamboo shoots, black soybeans, sweet potato, and preserved egg are some of the options you will find but what goes on it is your final pick. ​ Plus, on a day when you might be either hungover or with a stomach ache a bowl of plain congee helps smooth those stomach fires. ​ Steamed Buns - 包子 & 饅頭 The wonders of bamboo baskets and steaming food. Bread in Taiwan isn’t like what you would expect but these buns are perfect morning grab-and-go treats. For me, a ‘mantou’ 饅頭, is just a plain white bun that is shaped round with slightly flat sides and bottom. While a ‘baozi’ 包子 is a rounded stuffed bun. The fillings for baozi come in juicy pork, veggies, red bean, black sesame, taro, and custard. Usually one or two of these will get you filled while you are on the go. Soy Milk + You Tiao - 豆漿＋油條 In the west, you might have that combo of milk and cookies or coffee and doughnuts. Certain pairings just seem to go together. This is the lovely case with soy milk & ‘you tiao’, a fried cruller where they balance each other out. The idea of eating fried something in the morning might be a bit much but paired with a warm cup of soy milk, for me seems to balance it out. Better yet stalls in Taiwan will sometimes have unsweetened, salty, and sweet soy milk for your choosing. ​ Sweet Rice Milk - 米漿 Besides soy milk another bubbling hot beverage to see is rice milk, usually sweetened this is a good drink for those looking for an energy boost for the day. Most stalls now will also have purple rice milk which in my opinion has more flavor. **PEANUT warning: I’ve also recently learned that in Taiwan they will write 米漿 but the shops here add a little bit of peanut into the milk to sweeten it. Egg pancake - 蛋餅 One of my favorite breakfast dishes here, perhaps because of the simplicity of what it is. In its most simple version, a thin scallion crepe (or pancake) that’s rolled up and filled with a scrambled egg. Then drizzle soy sauce over it to give that extra salty punch. But nowadays there are different versions that have cheese, corn, ham and what I’ve found was the best - basil in them. What’s interesting to know is also around the island of Formosa there are variations on how they make these, one spot will roll out the dough and fry it up making it slightly more crispy while another spot will have the slightly pre-made dough and then add the egg mix in for a more doughy texture. Or better yet, add a ‘you tiao’ into the mix. Clay Oven bread - 燒餅油條 Layered flatbread goodness that comes sprinkled with sesame on the top. I don’t think I have seen these available besides breakfast hours but these clay oven bread rolls tend to be baked fresh (much like everything else on the Taiwanese breakfast menu) and can be stuffed either with the egg pancake, ‘you tiao’ or even both! For those foodie texture addicts, I’d recommend trying that at least once. Might feel like bread overload but you won’t regret it after the first bite. ​ Daikon Cakes - 蘿蔔糕 Another of my favorite dishes, when done right is the Daikon cake. Now if you don’t know what daikon is, let me clarify that it is neither radish nor turnip. Although it might be more closely related to a winter radish and a staple of Japanese and Taiwanese cuisine. This savory cake is made from a base of shredded radish and rice flour and depending on the recipe you might find it has extra umami of shiitake, sausage, ham, or even micro shrimp. It will look like a giant white jelly cake but for serving these are sliced and fried for a crispy touch. A gluten-free option as well! ​ Noodle Soup - 麵線 Also known as “mee sua” in Taiwanese, a bowl of these noodles (more like Chinese vermicelli) looks seemingly humble in its thick broth and slippery noodles. The broth might be made either with oysters or sometimes with pig intestines, and always comes with a sprinkle of spring onions on the top. Most stalls in Taiwan will either be known for just serving this one dish while other more traditional eateries will have a version of their own. If you have made it to the end of this without pausing and trying to figure out where to get one of these breakfast yummies wherever you are reading from - color me impressed! But best of all would be if you have or haven’t been to Taiwan yet, be sure the next time here to make sure to sample the most important meal of the day - Taiwanese style. Author and Food Travel Writer Yone Liau from Flavour Journey is a Food Photographer, Food Stylist, and Foodie Blogger from Taipei, Taiwan. Discover more about Taiwan and other places on the Flavour Journey Site or follow Flavour Journey on Instagram! Taiwan Breakfast Guide Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When being in Taiwan you'll have a lot of Breakfast dishes to choose from. Our Taiwan Breakfast Guide will help you find your favourite Taiwanese Breakfast. #breakfast #taiwanbreakfast #breakfastintaiwan #taiwanesebreakfast #breakfastdishes

I am a real burger lover, that´s it... But it all started only a few years ago. Before, the only burgers I tried were the ones from McDonalds :D Guest Blogger: Jana Abelovska, Eat Bake Fit Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate we also earn from qualifying purchases. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purshasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra - it probably will save you some bucks. It will though give us a small comission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travellers to explore our world together. Another particular thing is that 80% of my burger consuption is made while I´m travelling. It became some kind of a "ritual" for me that whenever I´m preparing my travel itinerary I google out the best burgers in the city I´m travelling to. And using this method I had some really great and delicious burgers all over the Europe. So today I´d like to introduce you two best burgers I had this summer in Barcelona! BACOA burger We had the burger called "La Bacoa" which is also their best seller and it contained cheddar, manchengo cheese, homemade pickles and artisan mustard. My friend had the same burger but with extra avocado whipped with lemon juice, salt and pepper. The burgeria declares their burgers are made of 18-month beef from Spain, never frozen or pre-cooked. We also tried their homemade hand cut fried potatoes "Rusticas" with homemade sauces. Find Cheap Accommodation in Barcelona Interior at Bacao Burgers You can find on their menu also vegan and vegetarian burgers and also hand made ice-creams. They have multiple restaurants in Barcelona usually opened from 1pm and one restaurant in Madrid. Simply Delicious Burgers! When I was eating it almost instantly I said to myself - THIS is the BEST burger I´ve ever had. First thing, the burgers were amazingly huge as you can see from the picture and I think it is quite impossible to eat them with hands. I had to split the burger to more parts and eat them separately. Meat was absolutely juicy and wonderfully MEDIUM done as I love it.  So for me absolutely worth eating and waiting for. Everything was freshly made and you know that you don´t eat something artificialy made but food made from fresh ingredients. In this case I don´t even consider this burger a "fast food". ​ Size of portion: 10/10 Meat quality and taste: 9/10 Fries and sauces: 7,5/10 Interior of restaurant: 6/10 Value for money: 7/10 FINAL RATING: 7,9/10 TIMESBURG burger Timesburg is a restaurant founded by three friends that left everything behind and went for something they loved most - burgers. Timesburg has three restaurant in Barcelona and one in Paris and they are usually opened from 1 pm to 4:30 pm and then again from 8:30 pm to 11 pm. ​ I really liked how the restaurant was furnished and styled. If I have to compare the ambience of Bacoa and Timesburg, Timesburg is winning it completely! The Bacoa restaurant was really small, only few spots to sit and it had an atmospehere more of a bistro than a real restaurant. On the contrary - Timesburg was nothing like that. So, what burgers did we have? I ordered one called "La D.F" with cheddar, nachos, jalapenos and mayonnaise. My friend had "La Foie" with italian style sheep cheese, bluberry sauce and sunflower seeds. You can choose from three types of burger buns - all homemade. You can have a plain white bun, cereal bun with mixture of seeds (sunflower, poppy, sezam) and bun with poppy seeds only. Variety of burgers is huge and prices are amazing - all burgers around 8-9 Euros. Their menu includes also the vegetarian option, homemade fries and desserts like Tiramisú or Panna Cotta. ​ I was really nicely surprised about the burgers. The portion was smaller than in Bacoa but in this case it was an advantage because burgers could be easily eaten, no splitting so you could taste all the burger in one piece. And hell again, the taste was just amazing! My friend was absolutely enchanted by the "La Foie" and I have to say that this friend of mine isn´t a huge burger lover. She went there only because of me and after eating it she was mentioning it the whole day. So I think this speaks of itself! Mine burger was also delicious. I love nachos and jalapenos, so when you combine great burger and these ingredients it can´t be nothing less than amazing, right? I was only a little bit dissapointed by homemade fries which were good but I think It wasn´t anything special. They looked like ordinary thin fries, maybe a little bit longer and thinner. So here are the final ratings. Size of portion: 7/10 Meat quality and taste: 9/10 Fries and sauces: 6/10 Interior of restaurant: 10/10 Value for money: 9/10 FINAL RATING: 8,2/10 ​ So as you can see, Timesburg got a little bit better rating than Bacoa but I really reccomend trying both of them. It depends if you prefer bigger portion, ambience of the restaurant, if you are a real fries lover... But I really hope this review helped you a little bit. Guest Blogger Jana Abelovska from Eat Bake Fit is originally from Bratislava in the Slovak Republic but are now living in London where she loves to bake, eat breakfast (her favourite food) and take off travelling. Visit Eat Bake Fit and follow on Instagram. Barcelona Foodie Tips Are you looking for the Best Hamburgers in Barcelona? This is a restaurant review of two burger restaurants in Barcelona. Find your Foodie Spot in Barcelona with our food guide to Barcelona Hamburgers. #bestburgersinbarcelona #burgers #barcelona #hamburgers #foodietips #foodguide #barcelonahamburgers #restaurantreview #burgerrestaurants #foodiespotinbarcelona Disclosure: Our site contains Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate we also earn from qualifying purchases. Clicking an Affiliate Link and purshasing something we recommend, won't cost you anything extra - it probably will save you some bucks. It will though give us a small comission which will help this site remaining a free resource for travellers to explore our world together.