RSSApr|14|2011
Use European City Cards to Make Some Huge Savings
Posted by Noemi as Backpacking & Budget, Cities, Destinations, Europe, Features, Tips
Traveling in the summer may not be that appealing to some people. In spite of the excellent weather in many places, there are just too many other tourists who pack their bags and hit the roads at this time. Still, if you do not mind the crowds, then these next couple of months is the perfect time to go visit the continent across the ocean.
Carousing around Europe is part of every traveler’s dream. However, we all know just how heavy on the pockets this could be. One critical weapon in the traveler’s arsenal is the city card. Major European cities offer these cards to visitors and locals alike, in an effort to help them make some savings. Here are some city cards that you should take a look at.
Barcelona Card
If you’re heading …
Feb|02|2011
Ben Thanh Night Market
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Cities, Destinations, Food and Drink, Shopping, Travelogger
There is something about night markets that attract me – and tons of other tourists, as well. Every time I visit a new city, I make it a point to find out if it has a night market, and I make sure that go there at least once. I don’t know why, but night markets are much more fun than the “day” ones.
In any case, as I was telling you in my previous post, Ben Thanh Market closes in the early evening, but its night market draws more crowds – if that’s at all possible. The night market is composed of stalls set up in the streets flanking the Ben Thanh Market. During the day, these streets serve as, well, streets. The sides are parking areas as well. When the night market opens, they still serve as streets – motorcycles galore – but your …
Nov|15|2010
Japan Eats: The Best of Fraponese Cuisine from Hortensia
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Cities, Features, Food and Drink
Travelers visit different destinations for many reasons, but there is no doubt that tasting the local culinary offerings is high up on most everyone’s list. If you are heading to Tokyo any time in the future, there is a new restaurant that you absolutely have to visit: Hortensia.
This restaurant is going to titillate your taste buds with a fusion of French and Japanese cuisine. Fraponese is what this marriage of cuisines is called, and it is one of the trendiest things in the Japanese restaurant scene these days.
At the helm of Hortensia is renowned chef Tetsuji Koja, who has decided to strike out on his own after a long string of achievements in the Japanese culinary scene. Chef Koja is well known for his imaginative touch in the kitchen, and his creations at Hortensia …
Sep|24|2010
Dealing with Jetlag and Climate Changes
Posted by Zahir as Adventure, Africa, Air Travel, Americas, Around The World, Asia, Australia NZ, Business, Carribbean, Cities, Europe, Getaways, Health, Health & Wellness, Luxurious, Oceania, People, Tips, Transport, Trends, United States, Warnings
People who love to travel are already used to the different time zones that most countries have. Sudden changes in the time and weather may prove to be a problem on adjusting to such if a person is not used to such fast paced evolution and lifestyle.
For people, traveling to any part of the world such as the United States, Europe and Asian continents would need body clock adjustments as well. The cultural practices and traditions are not the only immediate things that globetrotters should worry about but rather their ability to cope up with change.
Climate also entails being ready for the level of health a person is able to sustain. Sudden changes like cold and hot temperatures would need standby requirements of medicine or clothing just in case to ensure that the human body does not …
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Jun|28|2010
Paris Pour Les Enfants
Posted by Zahir as Cities, Europe, Family
The famed city of lights has always been the favourite of lovers from all around the world. In fact, few cities can beat Paris‘ incredibly romantic streets, cafes and gardens – so much so that even the locals here are seen smooching all around town. So what better place to bring two lovers fruits of love (the kids!)? If Paris has never crossed your mind as the next family holiday destination, think again. It’s the land of some of the most charming children’s books – of the precocious schoolgirl Madeline and the regal elephant Babar, and the colourful Barbapapa (translated as candy floss or cotton candy) family.
In Paris, there are playgrounds in nearly every block, and the larger ones come complete with, manege (carousel), guignol (marionette shows), even pony rides and snack carts. Little ones will also enjoy the street performers at Montmartre, and …
Jun|22|2010
Must Go Places In Europe
Posted by Noemi as Cities, Destinations, Features
The past two weeks have been busy as crap for me. Our bosses from France are in town, and you know what that means. Still, when we go out at night after work, we try to ban shop talk (it doesn’t always work) and get around to something more fun. One of the topics was visiting Europe. Of course, the Grand European tour is something that almost everyone dreams about. It helps in planning if you know people in that part of the world. Now I am not saying that I will be hopping on the next plane to Amsterdam (though I wouldn’t mind), but I will definitely go to these places if things work out the way I plan…
Paris
Cliché, but still a must visit. The Eiffel Tower, the River Seine, …
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Jun|18|2010
America’s Coffee Towns. Part 2
Posted by Zahir as Americas, Cities, Food and Drink, Historical
In the meantime, Starbucks under Schultz mutated into an operation of 2,000-plus stores. To San Franciscans, the coffee-as-image attitude is evidence that Seattleites aren’t as discriminating about good coffee as they are.
In San Francisco proper, Starbucks has 67 stores to Peet’s 10 and local chain Martha & Brothers’ five, and all 67 seem to be thriving.
So what does the way Seattle obsesses about good coffee and the way the Bay Area takes it for granted say about those two places?
To quote Baldwin: “It’s a question of experience and maturity, if you put it into human terms, the younger athlete, let’s say, is much more aggressive about asserting himself because he has something to prove. In the ’70s, there were just a handful of decent restaurants in Seattle, and no one came to Seattle to eat or shop or see what was going …
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Jun|14|2010
America’s Coffee Towns. Part 1
Posted by Zahir as Americas, Cities, Food and Drink, Historical
Seattle, San Francisco. These two jewels of U.S Pacific Coast have much in common: a reputation as the coffee lover’s Nirvana. So who is the real pro?
Though the cities’ caffeine societies are distinct, their pasts are intertwined. San Francisco has a tradition of good coffee that goes back at least as far as the 1899 opening of Freed, Teller & Freed, the oldest specialty bean roaster west of New York.
Peet was Dutchman Alfred Peet’s modest little roastery, opened in 1966 on Walnut and Vine in Berkeley, that became the real epicenter of the gourmet coffee boom that has engulfed the Bay Area, Seattle, and, mercifully, many former Maxwell House strongholds beyond.
It may be purely coincidental that many of San Francisco’s independent coffeehouses have a similarly well-worn, unhi-tech atmosphere. But it is no accident that the first Starbucks, …
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Apr|10|2010
Cities Party People SHOULD Go To
Posted by Noemi as Cities, Destinations
You probably know a little bit about me by now – I don’t like partying or going to a new city just for the night life. I do realize, however, that there are countless people out there who travel to a new place and yearn to get a sampling of the party scene. If you are one of those people, you ought to check out Lonely Planet’s list of ultimate party cities.
Some of the featured cities were not really a surprise. Buenos Aires, Argentina, for example, has long been known to offer the most exciting night activities one can ask for. After all, this is the land of tango!
But, did you ever think of going to Tel Aviv to party? According to the travel experts, this city is filled to the brim with …
Mar|21|2010
Ben Thanh Market In Saigon
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Cities, Shopping, Travelogger
At the start of this month, I told you that I would probably be writing mostly about Saigon as I had tons of experiences that I would like to share. I did have a short break yesterday when I wrote about my Mount Pinatubo experience – which is in the Philippines. Let’s go back to neighboring Vietnam, shall we?
One of the attractions of Saigon is the shopping experience. Trust me, even those who normally shy away from shopping will have a blast in Saigon! The most popular shopping destination is Ben Thanh Market. It is located right smack in the center of the city and served as a landmark for me. When I got a little lost, I would always find my way back to this market and rediscover my bearings.
So what does Ben …
