A Secret Day Trip from Bangkok

Sunflower Fields

Three hours away or so from Bangkok (depending on your mode of transport) lies a place quite unlike any other. For all the travelling I've done, it was the first time anyone has ever brought me on a secret day trip. And what a day trip it was.

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(Inaugural) Taste of Perth 2014

I've been caught up with a multitude of things - a business trip to London, a professional exam... life. But earlier in May, Y and I took time out for a trip to Perth and popped by the inaugural Taste of Perth festival. Such a beautiful event, really, with amazing food and gorgeous weather (autumn transiting into the beginnings of winter). There were no lack of happy faces and booths after booths of gourmet produce, chef creations, wine... you name it.

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Weekend in Kuala Lumpur - Hello, Bangsar!

Antipodean Café

I used to think that "real" travelling means only doing local things and eating local food, until I realized that locals don't just do local things or eat local food, do they? We live in such a borderless world that local cultures are hardly limited to long-time traditions. Increasingly, cultures (in open economies, of course) are evolving, interacting with globalization and giving rise to seemingly generic phenomenons - take brunch for instance, a quintessential sunday luxury that is popular almost everywhere. But really, as long as we enjoy it, does it matter if you're doing the same thing except in different countries? To me, traditionally, visiting Kuala Lumpur equated to eating up a storm of street food. But what if you knew about an enclave with chic restaurants and bars coupled with eclectic, boutique shopping? Everyone, meet Bangsar.

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Tapas Hopping in Barcelona - 4 places not to miss!

Pinotxo Bar, Marinated Snails

I have gushed about Barcelona's amazing tapas on more than one occasion. (Can you blame me?) On many of these occasions, people have informed me flat out that Tapas is a tourist thing. I don't buy it. True, tapas originated from the Basque region of Spain, and not Catalonia where Barcelona is capital. But looking at the myriad tapas bars springing up in nearly every corner of the city and the locals weaving in and out constantly for a perk-me-up, how can anyone not believe that tapas has become an essential part of the Barcelona lifestyle? If affordable bubbly (Cava) and snack-sized indulgences (a McFoie burger, maybe? or Sirloin pincho?) are your kinda thing, this one is for you.

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A Day in Yarra Valley

Domaine Chandon's Vineyards

Have you been to Yarra Valley? Located just an hour's drive away from Melbourne, this amazing valley held some of my best memories from Australia. It's easy to see why - gorgeous vineyards, lovely wine tastings, amazing cheese and lots of beautiful local products. At las, we only had a day to spare. Here's what we got down to doing: (Scroll to the end for a list of places I'd recommend)

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10 Food Not to Miss in Hong Kong

Beef Brisket E-Fu Noodles at Kau Kee

1. Stellar Noodles

I'm not sure why I've been so obsessed with Hong Kong of late. It might have been the Bo Innovation booth at Savour 2012. The thing is, I have so many favourite Hong Kong eats that it would take light years for me to ever list them all. Okay, that might have been a bit of a stretch, but seriously, I adore Hong Kong's food scene. (Pause - This is going to be a long, long post, so unless you're all curled up in bed and ready for a read, I wouldn't fault you for just strolling through the photos. But just in case you're going to Hong Kong any time soon, I also compiled a list of addresses right at the end. Enjoy!) Noodles, in particular, is something this city is utterly expert in. Without a doubt, Wanton Noodles and Beef Brisket Noodles are the top two you absolutely must not miss. What sets this city's noodles apart from all the rest really lie in the depth of their broth and toothy, perfectly al dente noodles. For Wanton Noodles, head to Tsim Chai Kee for a filling bowl of noodles with giant wantons, or the Maks (Mak's, Mak Man Kee and Mak An Kee) for a smaller offering with a more intricate broth. Also, don't forget to order Beef Tendons or Pork Knuckles when you're visiting Mak Man Kee. For Beef Brisket Noodles, I'd strongly recommend Kau Kee - the broth is remarkably flavourful and the beef brisket is as tender as it gets. Kwan Kee and Wai Kee are highly raved noodle joints as well. The former for lip smacking Beef Balls and Pork Knuckles, the latter for their delicious Beef and Pig Liver Noodles.

Tai Hing's Roast Duck and Pork Rice

2. Succulent Roast Meat

I would never leave the city without clocking some Roast Goose, Duck or Pork. Even in a chain like Tai Hing, the Roast Duck and Pork are excellent. I can certainly find ways to fault them, but that'd be nitpicking. If you're serious about your roasts, make a 4th floor reservation at Yung Kee and order a whole Roast Goose. While you're at that, don't forget an order of their luxuriously soft and flavourful Century Egg. Alternatively, Kimberley Chinese Restaurant does a highly raved Roasted Suckling Pig Stuffed with Glutinous Rice. If you're on a budget, Joy Hing is a good bet - this rustic restaurant is popular with locals and dates back all the way to the Qing Dynasty. Till now, they maintain roasting their pork over a pre-war designed oven. For the Roast Goose fanatic, Sham Tseng in New Territories is an area widely touted to have the best rendition in Hong Kong. Is Chan Kee or Yue Kee the best in Sham Tseng? You decide.

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A Pocket Hong Kong Guide

Wanton Noodles, Tsim Chai Kee

Hong Kong is by far one of my favourite cities in the world. Some of you may know that this blog was born in this city itself - I spent three months in Hong Kong on an internship stint, and fell completely and utterly in love with the city. It was an amazing experience. I would spend my free time trying tiny hole-in-the-wall joints, strolling the busy streets of Mong Kok, stopping for snacks far more frequently than I needed, and mostly being in awe of the city's vibrant energy even after midnight.

So when a good friend of mine first asked me for recommendations, I typed out an entire list for her in a pdf document out of enthusiasm. Not a list of ultra high-end restaurants, nor the most budget, but really just a good mix of what, in my mind, paints a coherent picture of Hong Kong's food culture. Since then, it has been a convenient file to send out to close friends visiting Hong Kong. Two years have passed, and the file was starting to get out of date. Thankfully, I found time to visit some wonderful friends in Hong Kong this January, and finally gave the guide the facelift it needed. Seriously, everything in there is so drool-worthy by my books that I can't help but get hungry every time I read it. I hope you'd enjoy these places as much as I do.

Side Note: There is a particularly strong focus on Hong Kong Island since that was where I stayed. Are there more restaurants in Kowloon or New Territories that should have been in there? Drop a comment to share! For one, I'd definitely recommend heading to Sai Kung at New Territories for fresh and affordable seafood!



To turn it into a pocket guide,
1. Print double sided on a single piece of A4 paper.
2. Fold in half, then half again lengthwise.
3. Unfold, then fold along the creases in accordion style with title facing you.
4. Fold in half with title facing up.



You can also download the guide here. And read about 10 Food Not to Miss in Hong Kong here.

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Eating Penang - Two Dishes You Can't Miss

Two Sister's Char Kway Teow, Kafe Heng Huat

It's All About Penang Char Kway Teow

Some memories don't fade with time. I had my first plate of Penang Char Kway Teow on a Malaysia road trip with my family and I've never really forgotten the taste. We'd spent a long day on the road and when we finally reached Penang, the skies had turned dark. We were all so hungry we literally turned in to the first coffee shop we saw. It was an impossibly rustic set up (isn't it always these places churning out the best grub?) but their Char Kway Teow seriously blew me off my feet. There is something about the cleaner flavours without sweet sauce - the chilli shines so much more. I can't even explain it coherently anymore, but that was the beginning of my crush on Penang Char Kway Teow. I haven't returned to Penang since.

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3 Days 2 Nights Marrakech-Merzouga Desert Tour (Part 2)

Leaving Dades Gorge, Olive Tree Plantation

Day 2: Dades Gorge to Merzouga Desert

Early next day, we left the beautiful Dades gorge and visited Moroccan plantations. Turns out that they grow olive trees too! This tiny donkey really tugged at my heart strings. There was a visit to another village after this, which involved demonstrations of hand woven carpets while we were served tea.

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3 Days 2 Nights Marrakech-Merzouga Desert Tour (Part 1)

High Atlas Mountains

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Gorge

The first part of the 3 days 2 nights Merzouga Desert Tour is finally here! It felt so incredibly surreal as we set off in a minivan, leaving all the headiness of Marrakech behind. You can bet we had ourselves some orange juice at the Medina square before leaving. What I love most about being on the road is the opportunity to watch the scenery flit past me - the blurry mountains and flickers of gentle grazing sheep. During the trip itself, the minivan frequently stopped at certain points to let us take in the scenery in its full glory and capture memories in pictures. Our first stop was the High Atlas mountains, which were much grander than I'd imagined. I loved how dreamy the mountains looked. There was a stall selling rocks and precious stones as well, but we didn't buy anything since it looked too much like a tourist trap.

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Fantastic Street Food in Fez, Morocco

Moroccan Mint Tea, Coffee

Start the Day with Moroccan Mint Tea (and Coffee)

Street food in Morocco is a dizzy affair. At once familiar and exotic, the subtle twists that made certain dishes completely different really blew me away. We spent three days in Fez, (and two in Marrakech,) but I suspect we have barely scratched the surface of Moroccan street fare. Each morning, we would begin our day at a completely local joint for mint tea and coffee. Tasting coffee all over the world is one of my favourite travel to-do, even if I can't put a finger on the differences sometimes. The moroccan mint tea, a local favourite, was both soothing and refreshing. It may look a tad intimidating and unpolished, but it really wasn't as overpowering as it looked - Mint tea in Morocco is made using brewed green tea as the base, so mint leaves are only thrown in at the last moment. Note of caution: Steeping the mint leaves for more than two minutes may cause acid reflux!

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7-Day Morocco Travel Guide (Marrakech, Merzouga, Fez)

Marrakech Sights

I've been meaning to write about Morocco for a while now. Such a gorgeous, gorgeous country. The vibrant hues everywhere you look, refreshing mint teas, addictive tagine meals, and seemingly endless souks (street markets) that sells almost everything you can ever imagine. It took us some time to plan the trip since there was limited information available on the web especially regarding the Merzouga desert tour, but we made it finally - travelled from Marrakech to Fez, with just enough time for a desert tour in between! Hopefully, the itinerary and travel tips below come in handy when it's your turn to visit this lovely multi-hued country!

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Chinese New Year in Singapore: The Complete Checklist

Call me naive, but I've always thought that everyone around the world celebrated Chinese New Year (henceforth abbreviated CNY) largely the same way I did. It wasn't until I celebrated CNY away from home for the first time last year that I discovered how wrong I really was. What I've taken to be completely normal routines were foreign to my friends from Hong Kong and Shanghai. So, mostly in the name of fun, and also for visitors who are looking to join in the fun, here's a checklist for CNY, Singapore style.

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7 Fabulous Things to Do in Dubrovnik

One of the most memorable things I did when I was in Europe was heading to Croatia alone for 11 days. It wasn't as simple as I thought it'd be, but it remains one of the best experiences I've ever had. Of those 11 days, I spent 3 in Dubrovnik, a beautiful city with a rustic, walled old town by the sea. By all counts, Dubrovnik was a great place, but like most great places, too many people knew about it. It was too crowded and touristy. But then I started learning all its little secrets and found myself increasingly drawn to the quaint old town. By the end of my trip, I was completely charmed.

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Portugese Egg Tarts v. Pastel de Nata

Portugese Egg Tarts from Margaret's Cafe e Nata, Macau

There is a very good reason why the best Portugese egg tarts are found in Macau and not Portugal. Portuguese egg tarts do not exist in Portugal! Ever since I visited Margaret's Cafe e Nata in Macau, which serves one of, if not the best Portugese egg tarts in the whole of Macau, I've been dreaming of flying off to Portugal to eat these sweet, delicious, wobbly, crispy things at its source. Because everything is better at its source, right? Wrong. Portugese Egg Tarts and Pastel de Nata aren't even the same thing!

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Wanderlust: Eat

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

This video makes me want to pack my bags and jet off to somewhere, anywhere! It captured the essence of food travel so well, with all the wonder, awe, trepidation and delight squeezed into sixty seconds. I loved it.

Psst I just watched the other two videos in the series, Move and Learn. So, so enthralling.

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What Not to Miss in Munich? Beer and Pork Knuckle. Lots of Them.

Beer at Der Pschorr

Lets start with the beer. I'm sure everyone already knows this but I can't help echoing it. Munich equals excellent beer. A trip to Munich without having their Bavarian beer, loads of it, is a trip wasted. The truth is I've never been that into beer to start with. I used to look at friends who beam with contentment after taking a swig or two of beer and couldn't even begin comprehend their pleasure. I guess you can call me a late bloomer. Things only changed when a certain friend heavily influenced me with his unbelievable enthusiasm and passion for beer when I was in Hong Kong for an internship. I mean, this is one guy who really loves his beer! I'm still no alcoholic, but now, if I take a swig or two of ice cold beer, I can actually feel the edges of my mouth curve into a contented smile that seems to mirror those I've seen on my friends. I guess I finally get it.

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Kielbasa Sausages - I had the Best Sausage in Poland!

Szaszłyk Stall, Rynek Glowny (From Top to Bottom)

In the flurry of travel - waking up in the wee hours to catch that first train, spending hours after hours planning, staying overnight in the airport because there was no way around it, walking till all our legs were sore just to make sure we've seen everything we needed to see - sometimes I start to forget why I'm travelling in the first place. Even if cash wasn't a factor, places started to look the same, and I started to get this faint realization that many of these "places of interest" I'm spending time and money to witness were really created by enthusiastic Tourism Boards eager to promote anything they discovered had the slightest marketing potential. There were times when I found myself thinking aloud, "Really? Did I come half way across the globe just to see this?"

At times, it got slightly depressing, even, rushing from place to place, half wondering if I could be falling under the clichéd group of people who were travelling just to say that they've been to places. It just wasn't what I had intended. I know it's almost taboo to be speaking this way about travelling. The moment travels are mentioned, images that are conjured up are completely opposite, and there seems to be a silent pledge to uphold all the positiveness about the subject. The fact that travelling is supposed to be amazing becomes almost pressurizing. And I'm pretty sure a lot of people out there mask their travel fatigue in accordance with the silence pledge. I'm definitely guilty. The reason I'm saying all these is because I really don't want everybody to get this false impression that travelling is always amazing, because I know just how disappointing it will be when you find out for yourself that is isn't always a bed of roses. It can be amazing, but only if you know what you want out of it. And even then it isn't enough. You have to be prepared to be disappointed.

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Snapshot: Cinnamon Ice-Cream in Budapest

Cinnamon Ice-Cream

I had my first Cinnamon Ice-Cream in Budapest. When M and I were travelling in Eastern Europe, we couldn't resist buying ice-cream every time we chanced upon a colourful ice-cream stand along the street. Well, we tried to keep to reasonable limits. The very first time we chanced upon an ice-cream stand in Budapest and saw that they offered Cinnamon among their varied flavours, I almost couldn't believe my eyes - how did they know what I wanted even before I did?? It was a pretty amazing feeling to be presented with exactly what I love even before it has even crossed my mind that I could have it. It's possible that cinnamon ice-cream exists in Singapore, but I've never seen it so this first taste of cinnamon ice-cream was sublime.

It tasted exactly like cinnamon, which means it tasted like warmth and Christmas - a very creamy, slightly milky Christmas. Impossibly delicious. You have to wonder why it isn't as much of a staple flavour like vanilla or chocolate. Just like the specks of vanilla beans you'd spot in a well-made vanilla ice-cream indicates real vanilla, the brown specks in the ice-cream indicates real cinnamon. In the remaining days that followed, I noticed that every ice-cream stand in Budapest offered this gorgeous flavour. Cinnamon ice-cream was commonplace in Budapest! Afraid that this might be the only city as crazy about cinnamon as I am, I had a lot of cinnamon ice-cream before I left. Unfortunately, my fears were spot on. I've been on the look out ever since but have yet to find another ice-cream stand selling cinnamon ice-cream. Not in Germany, not in Singapore. Help, anyone? I still dream about this ice-cream.

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Spinning Around In Gastronomic Paris, France, Part 2

As we were strolling away from the louvre and slightly lost, we chanced upon this contemporary Japanese restaurant, Zen. There are times when you look at a place and you sort of feel that it's kind of special. Sometimes your intuition fails you, other times it does you proud. Well, this time my intuition did me proud. Catch this chic and modern Japanese restaurant during lunch time like we did to get the best value. They were serving Ramen and a side of gyozas for just 9.90 euros! Best part was, everything was delectable. We got an additional side of Sake Maki for kicks, and it was satisfying too. The crispy and juicy gyozas were excellent, and so was the chashu, though I did wish that the ramen noodles had slightly more bite.

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