Asia, Destinations, Editor's Picks, Street Food Guide

The Vibrant Shilin Night Market in Taiwan

1 Comment

Everyone in Taiwan knows that if you want to see the most vibrant night view, you must go to Shilin Night Market. Shilin Market Taiwan is also one of the most famous tourist destinations in Taiwan, and it is much recommended for travelers who visit this country. Located in the district with the same name, this colorful place is also the biggest night market in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital city.

This market has everything, from food stalls to clothing and jewelry, from bars to video arcades, and from street side snacks to toys. This is also a favorite place for students to hang out with friends, because the market usually opens around 4 PM, after school is over. This is also a favorite place for locals to buy fresh goods for dinner, or hang out during weekend.

History of Shilin Market

Shilin Market Taiwan has been operating since 1909. It was used as a place for trading agricultural and farm products between Shilin District and other areas such as Dadaocheng and Banka. The humble market soon grew into bigger market that sold a lot more things and invited more customers. Gradually, the market turned into a trading, culinary and entertainment center. More vendor owners and merchants started business here. So many were they that the market finally turned into night market (it was previously a regular day market).

Eventually, Shilin Night Market became so crowded that it began to face fire risks as well as sanitation problems. Finally, the government relocated all food vendors; now, food vendors are located near to Metro Jiantan Station. Meanwhile, the old structure that previously housed food vendors were demolished and renovated. The project finished in 2011, and Shilin Market became its current look.

What You Find at Shilin Night Market

Just like its old days, Shilin Market Taiwan sells a lot of things and houses hundreds of vendors, including food stalls. There are about 540 food stalls at the food court, and there is a second structure above the non-food sections. It becomes a parking lot. This is a good place to really see the vibrant nightlife of Taiwan and see the lively interaction between locals and tourists. You can find almost everything, clothes, jewelry, souvenirs, accessories, bootlegged DVDs and imitation products of original European and America brands, video game arcades, bars, karaoke bars, nightclubs, toys and many more. However, the most famous place to visit at this night market is probably the food stalls.

Shilin Market Taiwan sells a lot of foods, but the favorite menus are usually traditional Chinese buns and their fried variations, fried steak (usually made of chicken), milk tea with ‘pearls’ (sweet gelatin balls), and oyster omelet. There are also popular Japanese fried foods, such as many types of tempura, and sweet treats such as peanut candy and jelly.

As a popular tourist destination, Shilin Market Taiwan is located in a very strategic spot and it can be reached from different areas using public transportation called The Red Line by locals (officially known as Taipei Rapid Transit System) that ends at Jiantan Station, located near the market. You can also use bus with particular numbers, such as 216 to 218, 224, 277 and 280.

Save up to $525 when you book your flight and hotel together at Expedia.com!

Editor's Picks, Sport and Adventure

Water Fun Activities With A Twist

2 Comments

When it comes to having fun, most people will talk about travel and leisure. Chances are that one will think about enjoying a swim, or just basking by the beach. However, it is important to know that there are many other water fun activities that you can try out. All you need is a large water mass and an open mind to explore the numerous possibilities. This is because, as we are going to see, there is a water sporting activity for every individual.

Kayaking

This is one of the oldest large water body sports known to man. The kayak is designed such that an individual can fit in a cockpit while paddling with a double bladed paddle. Some kayaks are known to have more than one cockpit. This sport is suitable for lakes, and rivers. One can also use a kayak to explore the sea where the water is calm. The modern day kayak has various adjustments. In the recent past, there has been an introduction of an inflatable kayak, a kayak that has revolutionized the kayaking experience.

Photo credit: ConanTheLibrarian via photopin cc

Rafting

If you are looking for a challenging water fun activity, then rafting is the best water fun activity. The sport is particularly popular among individual looking for a thrill. The modern raft is an inflatable boat that can accommodate at least four passengers. The rafters propel their raft using a single bladed paddle. White water rafting, which is a type of rafting, incorporates rafting on particularly rough waters thathave rapids. This is one fun sport that will surely have your body rushing with adrenalin.

Barefoot Skiing

Barefoot skiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a speeding boat, gliding over the surface of a large water body barefoot. This is also another thrill oriented water sport. The fact that it requires one to be pulled at higher speeds than those using water skis makes it even more wild and fun.

Photo credit: Blake Rea via photopin cc

Boat racing

This a general water fun activity that incorporates various types of boats. The general idea is to have individuals or teams compete over a stretch of a large water body such as a a lake or sea. The competitors may opt to use canoes, drag boats, or yachts among others. The easiest among these is to use the boats with outboard motors. Since this is meant to be fun, most people do not follow any strict rules making it even more unpredictable and exciting.

Kite Surfing

Also known as kite boarding, this is a sport that incorporates an individual using a controllable kite to propel him/herself over a large water body. The individual may do this over a lake, sea, or ocean. Kite surfing is a sport that is physically intensive as it requires a certain level of gymnastics to accomplish some of the moves performed. The Kite surfer has a small surf board that he uses to glide over the water surface.

Photo credit: TexasEagle via photopin cc

Yachting

The yacht has come to be associated with leisure, which is an important part of any water fun activity. Yachting involves the use of a fast moving boated to sail or move over a large water body. A yacht is mostly fitted with a sailing mechanism or an outboard motor that makes it easy to move around. If one is looking for a calm and serene water fun activity, then yachting is the sport of choice. Before you set your sails make a good preparation.

These are just few ideas you can experience, there is also diving, Stand Up Paddling (SUP), surfing…

What is your favorite water activity?

Travel Tech, Travel Tips

Top 5 travel apps for android

Leave a comment

Traveling used to include many different and useful things like backpacks, maps, etc. but today, most people would agree that the most important thing you should have while traveling is a smartphone.

Why is this so? It’s very simple; a modern phone includes very useful and practically necessary things for travelers, like an online map with most places you would need to visit. But there is another thing which is also very helpful in your “expeditions” – android apps.

Photo credit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

This is why I piled up a smaller list of the most useful travelling apps out there.

1.    Kayak

Kayak is an all inclusive app when it comes to travelling. It searches the internet to find the best deal. It can also find the flight you need and book it as well. Besides booking your flight, it can also book a room in a hotel you want. A lot of other useful information can also be found with this app. And of course, you can always download it for free on Google store.

2.    WeatherPro

This app does what you already expect – it gives you a lot of useful information about the weather in the place you’re located in. It gives you a 5-day forecast and data such as humidity, pressure, visibility, etc. The good thing about it is that it has most cities in the world, even those in some smaller and less known countries. But the bad thing about it is that it cannot work on an SD card for some reason… If you want it, get it for free.

Photo credit: http://guestofaguest.com/

3.    XE Currency

Many tourists often have the problem with the local currency. Most people get tricked by a lot of local exchange offices, mostly because they know nothing about their money. But with this very simple and useful app, you won’t have that problem. It’s updated regularly, so even if the local currency has some tendencies of changing a lot, you will know about it. As you can see, this app is a must-have for all travelers.

4.    Google Goggles

When visiting a foreign place, most people want to see some important famous places and find out information about the place they are visiting. If you have the language barrier, this app will be of great help. All you need to do is point your camera to a thing you want to learn more about, and if Google has it in its database, you will instantly get information.

Photo credit: http://www.uniquemobiles.com.au/ 

5.    TripAdvisor

In the end, another “all inclusive” app for you – TripAdvisor has millions of reviews about hotels, places, restaurants, etc. It can also help you discover places on your own. And, if you wish to be a part of this network, you can add your own reviews as well. If you want the app, download it at the usual place.

This would be the end of the list I made. Look up these apps, and see on your own if you could use them before your trip starts, and of course, have fun with them.

Editor's Picks, Travel Tips

Tips for Using Frequent Flyer Miles for Family Travel

Leave a comment

Do you know what you’re missing in your Frequent Flyer Miles for Family Travel? We all know by now it may be a little difficult finding more than one award ticket on the same journey, if you’re watching to cash-in frequent flyer miles for your family travel.

Obviously, the well-mentioned ad will tell you that getting the rewards you need, when you need them, is one of the most important features of a frequent flyer program. From Family Pooling to a membership pause for Parental Leave, you can take advantage of the great Frequent Flyer Miles for Family Travel.

Well then, how about trying to make things a little less difficult, shall we?

Number one tip is endeavour to book as far ahead as possible; and yes, many carriers do not release their entire award inventory many months out, but ten or eleven months ahead is a predictable time. At times it works in well with a program that allows one-way bookings, which in turn, makes for each leg being booked the day it is available.

Knowing your family school’s holiday schedule, you would be in a position long in advance to influence the inflexibility for awards that work for you and yours!

Another tip is that because few travellers realise how airlines price multiple award tickets, carriers release seats with a limited number of seats in an award class. So initially, you could search for the minimum number of award seats that you must have, and then narrow that down by increasing the number of successive searches. You may then perhaps have to divide your reservations between paid and award seats.

Why not consider splitting itineraries? Putting it plainly, most times the vacation is about the destination, not the journey. If there are just not enough award seats truly available, have each parent travel with some of the children. In that instance, you have a good way of scoring lower-level award seats for some of your travel schedule.

Another point would be to consider using a change in itineraries to optimise flights. Some carriers will have low-mileage award seats available when a timetable change affects travellers, thereby making them rebook their award tickets on the new itineraries. Try booking you family on separate journeys or on a less-pleasant one, perhaps? And if the carrier changes their schedules (which does happen more than you think), you could then combine your reservations. Don’t forget, there are programs that allow pooling of points or miles between family members also.

Make sure you are taking advantage of all the bonuses. There is the most lucrative credit card sign-up bonus, where you and your spouse/partner apply, and the Spend Bonus category where you earn extra points on what you spend. If there is a retention bonus in your program for keeping a credit card, you can look for some snail-mail incentive offers you could receive.

The most important tip would be to endeavour to be a little flexible with dates and routes. And if you’re willing to fly during off-peak times, you have every chance of being in luck!

Editor's Picks, Food, Restaurant Reviews, Street Food Guide

10 Unique Indonesian Foods You Must Try

4 Comments

When visiting Indonesia, do not skip the opportunities to try its original foods. Indonesia is a country rich in cultural heritages, including traditional foods. Each of 33 provinces in Indonesia has its own specific food, but many of them have spread to other provinces and become famous in many areas. Forget fancy fine dining; it is time for you to hit simple local restaurants or cheap food stalls to get these unique foods.

Sate Buntal
Sate (satay) buntal is one of Bali’s unique dishes besides betutu chicken and suckling pig. The word ‘buntal’ refers to the sate shape, which is not in small pieces of meat like the usual sate. Instead, sate buntal is made of finely chopped fish meat with spices, which are formed into one large lump orb bulge (‘buntalan’) using hands. The meat then attached on bamboo skewers and grilled.

Gudeg Kendhil
Gudeg is actually a famous and common dish in Yogyakarta Province in the center of Java; this is a rice dish eaten with stewed jackfruit, egg, chicken, sweet-savory spice and fried shaved coconut. However, Gudeg Kendhil is cooked in a clay pot (kendhil) and has hearty taste.

Mie Aceh
Mie Aceh (Aceh Noodle) is a spicy noodle dish from Aceh province in western Indonesia. The dish uses egg noodles with thick broth, served with beef, goat meat, crab, squid or prawn. There is also fried noodle version, but most people love Mie Aceh with broth.

Mie Bangka
Mie Bangka (Bangka Noodle) is almost similar with Mie Aceh. It is also made from egg noodle. However, the broth is lighter, served with various seafood dishes.

Gulai Patin
Gulai is a term for dish that is cooked with yellow coconut milk broth (the yellow color is from turmeric). Patin is a freshwater fish with soft meat that is very abundant in Jambi province. Gulai patin is usually cooked with coconut milk broth, but more traditional version uses fermented durian fruit flesh.

Ayam Taliwang
Ayam Taliwang (Taliwang chicken) is a chicken dish from Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. This dish is a set of fried or grilled spiced chicken served with white rice, fresh vegetable salad and chili paste. Usually, this dish served with really hot spice.

Tinutuan/ Manado Porridge

This is a porridge dish from North Sulawesi. Tinutuan has become a staple food in many provinces, mainly because this dish is light and healthy. Tinutuan is rice porridge without any strong flavor, mixed with green vegetables and corn. To complement its light flavor, Tinutuan is often served with salted dried fish, boiled corn, and chili paste. This is also a popular dish for breakfast.

Gohu Ikan
Gohu Ikan is a dish from Ternate, Maluku province, which is well known as ‘Ternate sashimi.’ This is because Gohu ikan is a raw tuna fish mixed with very strong and sharp spices, such as chili, red onion, garlic, lime and many more.

Rujak Cingur
This East Java dish is made of cow’s snout or tongue, mixed with cucumber, young mango flesh, soy cake, pineapple, bean sprout and long beans. It is eaten with special spice made of prawn paste, palm sugar, chili, salt and fried onion.

Catemak Jagung
Catemak Jagung (corn catemak) is a type of dessert porridge made of corn, pumpkin and green bean, which is very popular in East Nusa Tenggara. Although this is dessert, the porridge is rather savory than sweet.

Celebrity Chefs, Editor's Picks

Chef James Martin, the Celebrity Chef

Leave a comment

JAMES MARTIN AT MANCHESTER 235Currently, being a chef is not just about cooking, creating recipes and running a restaurant or kitchen. A successful chef with good look can become ‘celebrity chef,’ just like in the case of Chef James Martin. While Chef Martin spent years learning about catering, savory cooking and pastry making, he is also well known in England and even in the world through his various TV shows since 1996.

Background

Born in 1972 in Yorkshire, England, Martin was originally a farmer kid who enjoyed cooking with his mother. He continued his interest in coking via a professional study in Scarborough Technical College, were he studied catering and had training at several famous restaurants, including Hostellerie De Plaisance in France.

With such impressive background, Martin was able to find his first job before age 20 as staff at Maison Troisgros, also in France. He then returned to England and worked at several famous restaurants there such as One Ninety Queen’s Gat, The Square and Harvey’s, before becoming pastry chef at Chewton Glen Hotel.

First TV Debut

Chef Martin first became TV celebrity in 1996 when he appeared in James Martin: Yorkshire’s Finest, in which he explored the culinary richness of his hometown. However, his name then started to soar when he appeared in BBC 2 cooking program, called Ready Steady Cook. Interestingly, at one point during his appearance in that program, he also gained world record as the fastest carrot chopper in the world, when he peeled and chopped 515 grams (almost a quarter pound) of carrots in 60 seconds.

Further Celebrity Debut

Chef Martin appeared in BBF Food show Stately Supers as well as reality show in Channel 4, where he and the host visited home cooks at their own houses for comfort food cooking challenge. Then, he got his first presenter gig in BBC1 in a weekend show called Saturday Kitchen. By this time, his name soared among BBC viewers as one of their celebrity chefs.

After Saturday Kitchen, Martin appeared in various shows such as Can You Cook It?, The Great British Village Show, James Martin’s Christmas Feast and Eating with the Enemy. One of his most successful programs was Operation Hospital Food, where he improved menu quality at Scarborough General Hospital. This show was highly appreciated by viewers, and becoming one of Chef Martin’s most successful shows.

TV Appearances in 2013

Chef Martin apparently has not lost his celebrity charm. This 2013, he appeared at several shows. Between February and March, Chef Martin explored United States and sampled various cakes and snacks before reviewing them in United Cakes of America. He was also involved in judging panel in June show, The Roux Scholarship, together with Angela Hartnett and Raymond Blanc.

His most recent appearance was in June, when he appeared in The Great British Budget Menu and showed various nutritious, delicious recipes with cheap ingredients. Besides all his TV appearances, Chef Martin is also a successful restaurant owner with two restaurants; The Leeds Kitchen at Alea Casino (closed due to the closing of the casino) and the latest one in The Talbot Hotel in North Yorkshire.

Cultural and Historical Heritage, Destinations, Europe

Historic Destinations: Edinburgh Vs Paris

Leave a comment

Those who have an interest in history and are planning their next city break should check out the cities of Edinburgh and Paris. Both of these historic destinations boast a large number of world famous historic buildings for visitors to discover as well as interesting and informative museums that really make local history come alive.

The Royal Mile features some of Edinburgh’s most historic buildings, including a number of interesting historic hotels. Visitors who take the time to find hotels on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile find themselves checking in near a number of exciting historic attractions such as the Palace of Holyroodhouse, St Giles’ Cathedral, Old Parliament Hall and the Royal Parliament, which can be found just a short walk to the east of the Royal Mile.

Paris is also rich in historical attractions, including the iconic Eiffel Tower. While the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower is absolutely stunning, people who are looking for the full Paris experience will want to find a hotel with views of the Eiffel Tower. Many of the leading Paris hotels offer stunning views of the Eiffel Tower from the windows and balconies of their guestrooms, while they also feature dining rooms with stunning views of this world famous monument.

Returning to Edinburgh, no trip to this impressive Scottish city would be complete with allowing time to explore Edinburgh’s historic castle. Edinburgh Castle is also located close to the Royal Mile and visitors will be able to reach this stunning attraction on foot. Craigmillar Castle is located close to Holyrood Park and dates back to the 14th century. There are also plenty of historic attractions to explore in the Grassmarket area, including the impressive George IV Bridge.

Of course, there is much more to Paris than simply the Eiffel Tower. The Arch de Triumph is located at the end of the Champs Elise and is a great place to pause to take a few photographs while taking a tour of the city. The impressive cathedral of Notre Dame has also played an important role in the history, while art lovers will want to pay a visit to the Louvre art gallery.

Both Edinburgh and Paris offer special historic tours of the city, which makes it easy to explore many of the top attractions in a short period of time. This is an ideal option for people who are having trouble choosing between the two cities as they will be able to book a weekend break in Scotland before hopping across the Channel to explore all that Paris has to offer. Taking one of the Wallace Cycle Tours that run past most of Edinburgh’s main historical attractions is a great way to see the city in a unique new way while getting fit at the same time. Cycling tours around the oldest sections of Paris are also available as well as a number of other special theme tours.

Celebrity Vacations, Editor's Picks

Hollywood Celebrity Summer Vacation 2013

Leave a comment

This summer, many Hollywood celebrities make news only by visiting famous holiday spots and showing off their bikinis and swimming attires. From Hawaiian beach to Mediterranean Sea, Hollywood celebrities welcome summer by enjoying sun in even warmer (and more exotic places) than LA. Some bring their kids, others enjoy romantic holiday with their mates.

Who are Hollywood celebrities that recently grace many magazine covers and social media albums with their summer holiday pictures in exotic places? Let’s find them out.

Beyonce and Jay Z
This dream couple spent their summer holiday in Mediterranean Sea, cruising with their private yacht to Italy and Spain along with their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. This summer holiday apparently doubled as birthday holiday, as dear Mrs. Carter turned 32 when they started the cruise. Beyonce regularly posted her holiday pictures in her personal blog, including her pictures with Jay Z on their yacht.

Bradley Cooper
The actor apparently chose to spend precious ‘me-time’ by himself, when he was spotted by paparazzi relaxing alone in Hawaii beach last Saturday. He spent time swimming, cruising on the beach and just enjoying himself. He even chose not to bring his girlfriend, a model named Suki. The Hawaiian holiday was his last free time activity before he starts a new movie project with Cameron Crowe.

Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams
These two famous tennis players apparently chose to spend their precious summer holiday time in their own country, taking a short break before the next championships and sport events. Serena chose to spend summer by taking a break on Miami Beach, while Rafael Nadal chose to going on a yacht cruise with some good friends.

Penelope Cruz
Apparently, Penelope Cruz has no problem at all showing off her body in bikini, only 2 months after giving birth to a daughter. She and her husband chose to spend summer holiday in warm Corsica, spending time together with their friends on beach cruise and yacht trip in Mediterranean Sea.

Pink and Nicole Kidman
What are the similarities between Pink and Nicole Kidman? Nothing, except that they were just spotted spending summer holiday in Indonesia. They went to Yogyakarta and apparently quite succeeded in avoiding paparazzi for some time. They spent time by shopping in Malioboro Street as well as visiting Borobudur Temple and Kaliurang area near Mount Merapi.

Hayden Panettiere
The former Disney Star, who a couple of months ago became infamous when sporting misspelled Italian phrase as tattoo on her ribcage, was just spotted in Miami Beach, a favorite spot for many celebrities to spend summer holiday.

Jennifer Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Ang Lee
These four celebrities also have similarities: they just spent summer holiday in the exotic Belize. In fact, these famous four had stayed at the same resort, the Chaa Creek, which is famous as one of the most favorite holiday resorts in Belize for celebrities due to its strict privacy policy. Leonardo DiCaprio was also seen spending holiday in Belize, but that is because he owns one of the small islands nearby.

Now, as winter approaches, we can start to expect some great winter holiday snaps from more celebrities.

Editor's Picks, Entertainment, Nightlife Guide

Famous Red District Areas in Popular Tourist Destinations

Leave a comment

If you like traveling, you must be excited to visit various tourist destinations in the world. However, when you visit certain cities, especially if those cities are very busy and famous, there are big chances that you will find red light districts.

Red light district is not something uncommon in big cities, but as a tourist, you must be careful not to come close to this area, especially if you do not want to get bad name or bring your family along in vacation. By knowing about red district areas, you can travel without accidentally entering this area and getting into trouble or unwanted attention. Here is some information about red light district areas to avoid in the world’s popular tourist destinations.

Red District Areas in Asia

If you visit Bangkok, you can expect to see various red light district areas; one of them is Soi Cowboy. This is just a 400-meter road, but it is located near to important public places such as Millennium Hotel and two public transport stations.

In Singapore, famous red district area is the ‘Lorong’ (lanes) in Northern and Southern part of Geylang, where there are many bars and houses where prostitutes entertain foreigners. In Indonesia, the famous red district area is Gang Dolly (the Dolly Lane) in Surabaya City, East Java. The area is located in Jarak area in Pasar Kembang, and it is actually the second largest red district area in South East Asia.

Moving to the East, Kabuki Cho is an area in Shinjuku, Japan, which is famous for its various bars, nightclubs, erotic shops and other erotic establishments. The area is located near Shinjuku Station, and is very recognizable at night with bar and club workers promoting their businesses on the roadside. In South Korea, Cheongnyangni-dong (district) has red district area in Cheongnyangni 588.

In Hongkong, Wan Chai area has a bar district on Lockhart and Jaffe Road, near the Western End. In India, when visiting Mumbai, do not let yourself get lost in Kamathipura, a red light district near Southern Mumbai where about 50,000 prostitutes work.

Red District Areas in Europe and America

Europe and America also have their fair share of red district areas. If you visit London, do not get lost in Soho, an area in Westminster that is famous for its red light districts (although the area has been a little bet improved).

In Paris, there is Quartier Pigalle, an area near Place Pigalle, where many erotic shops and bars operated boldly; you can see their signs that show their nature such as ‘Sexodrome’.

In Amsterdam, De Wallen is a red light district that consists of many alleys with erotic shops and clubs illuminated with red lights at night.


Meanwhile, in German, there is Reeperbahn area in Hamburg. However, the entrance of this area is marked with red sign that forbids youths under 18 year old and women to enter, so you can easily avoid this area.

In the United States, Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles are not only famous as places where you can see movie stars, but also red district areas at night where prostitutes will offer themselves to drivers on roadside. Meanwhile, in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, there is a commercial district called La Zona (Boy’s Town), which serves as some kind of semi-legal red light district.

Shortly, by knowing about these areas, you can avoid unnecessary troubles when traveling.

Editor's Picks, Food, Indonesia, Street Food Guide

List of the Most Popular Foods in Bali

5 Comments

Bali is famous for not only its beauty and culture but also its food. Many tourists that visit Bali probably know more about iconic places in Bali than its foods. While you may prefer to enjoy fine dining meal in fancy restaurant, there is nothing wrong with hunting for Bali’s iconic dishes in local restaurants and cheap food stalls. If you want to explore everything good about Bali, food is the thing you cannot skip.

Bali’s Popular Food List
Here are some of the most popular foods in Bali you can find in various establishments:

  • Ayam Betutu

Ayam betutu (betutu chicken) is an iconic chicken dish in Bali that is loved by both locals and foreigners. This dish consists of steamed, spicy chicken served with white rice, vegetables and chili paste. Some local restaurants actually cook their chicken with hot ingredients, so if you cannot handle something spicy, order a lot of sweet drinks! A complete portion of this dish only costs around IDR 20,000 to 30,000 (about $2 to $3).

  • Babi Guling

Babi guling (suckling pig) is a type of roast dish made of whole pig roasted in a pit. This dish can be found in Denpasar, Kuta and Seminyak, from cheap stalls to upscale dining establishments. This menu is usually served for dinner, and the best way to enjoy this dish is at beachside restaurant or food stall. Usually, restaurants will put bold announcement outside their establishments about their suckling pig menu, to inform Moslem visitors.

  • Godoh Gedang

This is a simple dish made of fried sweet banana, which is very easy to find. Godoh gedang is eaten with coconut shave and palm sugar sauce, but some upscale restaurants serve this dish with white, creamy sweet sauce.

  • Bubur Injin

Bubur injin (injin porridge) is a type of warm dessert made of black sticky rice, crushed until soft and eaten with coconut milk.

  • Lawar

Lawar is a type of vegetable dish cooked with spices and chili, and sometimes mixed with beef or pork. There are restaurants that mix blood into their versions of lawar, which is believed make the taste stronger and more delicious. Lawar can be found anywhere; from cheap food stalls to local restaurants. If you are a Moslem, you should ask about the ingredients first before ordering.

  • Jaja Bali

Jaja Bali is actually a broad term given to various small, sweet cakes that are usually sold in the market. These cakes are popular as snacks or breakfast, eaten together with warm cup of tea or coffee. Since many of these cakes are made of rice, coconut and palm sugar, they are quick to stale. If you want to taste the original Jaja Bali, find traditional market and visit early in the morning. These small cakes are very cheap; often just IDR 500 to 1000 per piece (around 0.5 cent to 1 cent).

What do you think? Are you ready to explore Bali’s rich culinary? Never visit Bali without tasting some of these iconic foods to make your holiday in this island unforgettable.

Best Travel Guides to Destinations Around the World