Explore 7 Onsen towns in Japan

An 'Onsen’ is a natural hot spring bath and one of the most popular places to relax both the body and mind in Japan. As Japan is situated in a volcanic area, thousands of onsen are scattered throughout Japan and often enjoyed in the countryside.

Hot spring used to be a sacred place where people can cure their injuries and diseases in earlier time when they had little knowledge of health and had little medication. So please visit and enjoy onsen towns in Japan, you will see fantastic view. You will be relaxed and recovered and could have a treatment like the one at beauty salon.

Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Onsen (hot springs) is one of Japan’s most popular hot spring resorts.
Yubatake is known for the quality of its hot spring water which flows from one of the country’s three major springs. Another popular attraction is ‘Yumomi’, a traditional way of cooling down hot spring water by using large wooden paddles. A yumomi performance for tourists is held daily in the Netsu No Yu bathhouse next to the yubatake (admission 500 yen).

Yufuin Onsen

It is stretching at the foot of Mt. Yufudake in Oita. It is voted as the top hot spring area in Kyushu in many surveys and is popular especially among women. Accommodations are located in rural area for you to enjoy fantastic scenery. On the other hands, there are individual museums, fashionable restaurants and shops are found here and there most women would like.

Beppu Onsen

It is located in Oita, Kyushu. The number of hot spring wells and the yield of hot water is the largest in Japan. There is a famous tour called Beppu Jigoku Meguri that you can see different type of Jigoku springs such as Sea Hell, Blood pond Hell, White pond Hell and Tornado Hell. You can have their specialty onsen eggs which are steamed or boiled in the hot spring water.

Noboribetsu Onsen

Noboribetsu Onsen is the most famous onsen resort in Hokkaido and one of best onsen resorts in Japan. The hot spring naturally produces 10,000 tonnes of water a day. It produces 9 different types of spring water containing elements and minerals such as sulphur, salt, aluminium, mirabilite, melanterite, iron, acidic iron, alkaline and radium.

Onsens are used as therapeutic baths to cure diseases and injuries, and over the past few years a great number of people have realised their benefits. Those who enjoy good health use onsens to rejuvenate their body and mind. It is highly recommended to stay in a traditional onsen ryokan.

Ibusuki Onsen

It is located an hour and 35 minutes away from Kagoshima Airport by dedicated bus. This Onsen is famous for natural sand bath called “Sunamushi”. It is unique bathing, you will be covered by sand at the beach. It has effect on nerve pain and muscle ache, also has effect on your beauty like salon treatment.

Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen

Lake Kawaguchiko is located at the base of the iconic Mount Fuji. A number of bath houses and ryokan offer indoor and outdoor bathing, but the view of Mount Fuji from the baths may be obscured by structures or clouds. The area is most scenic during the spring cherry blossom season or leaf viewing season.

Read more: Top places for a remarkable volcanic experience in Japan

Source TripZilla

The way Da Lat makes you love at first sight

There are many names that the Vietnamese people use to refer to Da Lat such as The City of a Thousand Flowers, Dreamy City, Sad City, The Land of Love, The Land of Cherry Blossoms, Little Paris etc. Da Lat has always been depicted in literature, paintings and pictures, wandering about in contemporary arts and travelers’ hearts. It is hard to describe Da Lat because words do not do justice to the feeling you get when there, talking to the locals, feeling the cool breeze, watching flowers bloom, and enjoying authentic coffee.

Flowers, everywhere

In Da Lat, it is flower season all the time. They bloom in profusion in small alleys and gardens and parks, as also vast fields that seem to stretch into the horizon. Da Lat is a heaven filled with thousands of species of flowers. From the unofficial symbol of Da Lat – the Mexican Sunflower, to the Mimosa Flower (Silver Wattle), and the Cherry Blossom, these colorful beauties grow everywhere–from the sidewalks to the serpentine tracks around the mountains.

Unique homestays

Da Lat is a paradise for beautiful homestays at very affordable prices, starting from VND100,000 ($4.30) per night. Each homestay has its own style and characters. Some houses are built in the middle of the forest, or besides a big flower garden, or hidden away in a small, quiet alley, while some even have bars with live music or a café. The options are almost handless, and you will feel like trying many of them.

Weather

 

The cool climate also makes it the perfect place to rest, relax, and be lazy all day. It will even be an excellent experience if you decide to book your accommodation at a more personal homestay or BnB instead of an upscale hotel.

Cloud hunting at dawn

Da Lat, the foggy town in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, has many names after its natural beauty such as the city of love, the city of flowers, or, thanks to its colonial heritage, Vietnam’s Little Paris. When you are in Da Lat, it would be huge miss not to wake up early and take in the beautiful, mystical sight of clouds and fogs lingering over the mountain tops. The vast sea of clouds and the tranquil atmosphere in Da Lat at Xuan Huong Lake, Cau Dat Tea Plantation, Pinhatt’s Summit and Hon Bo Hill make cloud hunting the best way to start a day. These are dream destinations for photography enthusiasts.

People

Southerners in Vietnam have a reputation for being hospitable and warm and Da Lat is no exception. But it is not just the locals that make Da Lat so pleasant, domestic travel agents also target the city for honeymooners which gives it a youthful and romantic feel not found anywhere else in the country.

Read more: Chill out in the newest spots in Dalat

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Take a look at Vietnam's traditional festivals

Festivals in Vietnam offer visitors the best opportunity for getting up close and personal with the myths, customs and fun-loving spirit of this proud nation.

1. Tet Nguyen Dan (January/ February)

Tet Nguyen Dan marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year in the Vietnamese calendar and is certainly one of the most revered festivals in the country. This holiday is an occasion for the entire family to get together and indulge in rituals such as lighting fireworks, visiting temples, giving out flowers. 

2. Lim Festival (Mid February)

Take a dip into the folk culture of Vietnam during the Lim festival, which is another prominent festival celebrated at the beginning of the year. Quan Ho, which is a UNESCO recognised tribe, perform their exquisite dances and a number of games are played in celebration of this festival. Traditional costumes and dragon boats are a common sight. Danh du (bamboo swings), tug-of-war, wrestling, cockfighting, human chess, and blind man's bluff are some of the games that are played during this time and is an interesting way to interact with the locals. 

3. Perfume Festival

Perfume Pagoda in Hanoi is the centre of the Vietnamese Perfume Festival which is celebrated the from the 6th day of the 1st lunar month until the end of the 3rd lunar month. Pilgrims from all over the country visit this shrine, and the pilgrimage begins with a dragon dance at Den Trinh Pagoda. The pilgrims then continue the journey on a boat along the Yen River up to the base of the Huong Mountain. 

4. Hung King Temple Festival (Early April)

Hung King Temple Festival is celebrated in the honour of Kinh Duong Vuong, who was the first king of Vietnam in 2879BC. A hundred lanterns adorn the night sky as a commemoration of this mighty king's contribution, while elaborate worship rituals are held in the Hung Temple. 

5. Hue Festival (April/May/June, every two years)

As a dedication to the colourful and illustrious legacy of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue Festival is celebrated in the UNESCO-listed Hue City. This celebration is a unique display of numerous games, performances and cultural renditions and is a magnificent sight to behold. The formal celebration of this festival began in the year 2000 as a part of preserving the traditions and customs indigenous to Vietnam. 

6. Mid-Autumn Festival (Mid September)

This day is celebrated on the 14th and 15th day of the lunar month, and all age group celebrate it uniquely. Children carry paper lanterns across the town; colourful lion dances embellish the streets and food booths selling sticky rice, mooncakes, fruits, and various sweets adorn the sideways. Altars are set up in each household during the night, and various offerings are made to the full moon.

7. Hoi An Lantern Festival (14th day of every month)

Celebrated on the 14th day of each lunar month, every outlet, house and businesses in the Ancient Town switch off its electrical lighting equipment and lights away a dim candle settled snugly in an ornate lantern. The entire city is lit up with thousands of these paper lights. The soft amber hue of the flame within shines against the Kohl of the night and turns this town into a magical place. 

See more: What do you know about Hoi An Lantern Festival?

Source: holidify

Discover the best dishes in Asian countries

Known as "the quintessence of a country", the cuisine is one of the main reasons why people love traveling to Asia. These signature dishes are not only tasty but also reflect the distinctive marks and special meanings of Asian countries.

Pho (Vietnam)

If you have a chance to travel to Vietnam, don't forget to try a bowl of pho. Pho is a noodle soup that is classically made from rice noodles, fresh herbs, vegetables (cilantro, lime, bean sprouts and chilies) and raw beef that cooks itself in a steaming bone broth.

Peking Duck (China)

Peking duck is one of the most significant Beijing dishes. The duck meat is characterized by its thin, crisp skin, with authentic versions of the dish serving mostly the skin and little meat, sliced in front of the diners by the cook.

Pad Thai (Thailand)

A dish of stir-fried rice noodles is thought by some to have been introduced to Ayutthaya during the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom by Chinese traders and subsequently altered to reflect Thai flavor profiles. Pad thai is made with soaked dried rice noodles, which are stir-fried with eggs and chopped firm tofu, and is flavored with tamarind pulp, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic or shallots, red chili pepper, and palm sugar and served with lime wedges and often chopped roasted peanuts.

Bibimbap (South Korea)

Probably the best-known Korean dish, Bibimbap is a must-try dish when traveling to South Korea. A hot stone bowl is filled with cooked rice and topped with vegetables, pickled Chinese radish, carrot, and mushrooms. Great care is taken to make the dish look attractive. Egg yolk and raw beef are also popular additions when stirred through they cook against the hot stone.

See more: Discover a taste of South Korea

Sushi (Japan)

For the unfamiliar, sushi refers to the Japanese preparation of vinegared rice served with a variety of ingredients, mostly fish and other types of seafood. It’s commonly eaten with pickled ginger and dipped in soy sauce mixed with wasabi. Unlike sushi which may contain cooked or prepared ingredients, sashimi is always served raw and without rice.

Banh Mi (Vietnam)

If you’re planning on traveling to Vietnam, the one sandwich you will hear about and will not want to miss is the Bánh Mì sandwich. This famous Vietnamese sandwich has been consistently ranked as one of the world’s best sandwich. A typical Vietnamese sandwich is a fusion of meats and vegetables from native Vietnamese cuisine such as chả lụa (pork sausage), coriander leaf, cucumber, and pickled carrots and daikon combined with condiments from French cuisine such as pâté, along with mayonnaise.

Dim Sum (Hong Kong)

If there’s one type of cuisine in Hong Kong that you’ll likely want to eat, again and again, it’s dim sum. Usually served for breakfast or lunch, the difficult part is choosing where to go amid the dizzying number of options. Hong Kong dim sum sessions were about tea appreciation - that's why dim sum meals are commonly known in Cantonese as yum cha.

Beef Noodle (Taiwan)

Beef noodle soup often referred to as beef noodles, is a Chinese and Taiwanese noodle soup made of stewed or red braised beef, beef broth, vegetables, and Chinese noodles. It exists in various forms throughout East Asia and Southeast Asia. The beef noodle soup was first created by the Hui people during the Tang Dynasty.

Chicken Rice (Singapore)

You can say chicken rice is a comfort food among many Singaporeans. Not only is this a cheap dish, but it is highly fragrant, filling and nutritious. The rice itself is made via a complicated process of balancing the right amounts of garlic, ginger and chicken broth to achieve a fragrant rice. The chicken too undergoes a complex process of steeping at sub-boiling temperatures to create a stock and reusing the broth over and over again.

See more: Enjoy the best traditional Indian dishes

Source Internet

The love market, unique culture of Sapa

Only taking place on weekly Saturday evening, Love Market in Sapa used to be the place for ethnic people to find a partner to get married. At this market, visitors have chance to enjoy the real life of H’Mong and Red Dao ethnic minorities.

What makes it special

The love market of Sapa used to be the place to find a partner to get married. With the tourism, the real love market does not take place anymore. Currently you can only see a representation of the love market. Do not miss it anyway if you are staying here a Saturday night. Young Red Dzao tribe used to come to Sapa to sing songs to the opposite sex. Girls sang the songs hidden in the dark, when a boy found them, and if they matched together, they disappeared into the forest for three days. Some of them got married after that.

How it is held

The market is held only on Sunday morning for people coming here to exchange or buy and sell the necessary utensils for daily life so it is always very crowded. Because villages in Sapa are sparsely populated, people living in far-away villages had to go in advance from Saturday to be able to join the market on Sunday. They arrived at the town on Saturday evening, and take a rest.

In the market, youngsters would have a chance to get to know others by joining activities such as playing traditional games, playing leaf-horns, singing and dancing. The performances of them were full of romantic melodies expressing wishes for an eternal love. Not until the market finishes, happy memories are left in the minds of many mountain people. After that night, some can luckily find out their match and make a promise to date on the next market. Many of them later become husbands and wives. It is the reasons why that night called the Love Market - a beautiful cultural feature of the Sapa region.

Why you should visit the love market

Love market is the place where all traditions, customs and beliefs of Dao, H’Mong and other ethnic groups are presented. It is where you can join with their activities and feel the unique features in their traditions by yourselves, not just watch and listen it from tour guides. And it is where you can approach the friendliest, the plainest and the most hospitable local people.

Moreover, you can visit the market and buy some specialties or some souvenirs for your beloved. They are displayed in many stalls and you have a wide range of choosing what you like.
About 10:30 pm or 11:00 pm, you also enjoy the sound of Khen and Sao, join the love market and perhaps you want to try using these popular musical instruments.

Read more: Shopping in Sapa’s markets

Source Internet

4 superstitions in Hong Kong you need to know

Hong Kong is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, however, many of its inhabitants remain highly superstitious such as beliefs about lucky numbers, bad omens and spirits abound in the local collective psyche.

Lucky numbers 

The numbers have always played an important role, from choosing building floor numbers on which to reside to setting wedding dates or choosing mobile numbers. Each number carries symbolic meaning and significance, and certain numbers are considered more “lucky” or “unlucky” than others due to their pronunciation. For example, number 8 is the most favored number among Chinese because it sounds like “prosperity” & “fortune”.

In Cantonese, the word for “four” sounds similar to the word for “death,” so Hong Kongers avoid the number at all costs. In many buildings, floor numbers such as 4, 14 and 24 are skipped. People avoid gifting things in sets of four, and even prefer phone numbers without the number four.

Taboo gifts

Hong Kongers believe certain things should never be given as gifts, including:

Clocks: In Cantonese, “to give a clock” is song zung, a phrase that means “to prepare for the end,” referring to the rites of paying one’s last respects to a loved one near the end of their life and burying them after they die. Clocks are also reminders that time is running out.

Sharp objects: Gifting knives and blades are inappropriate because they represent a severing of relationships.

Pears: The word “pear” sounds similar to the word for “depart” or “leave.”

Umbrellas: The word for “umbrella” is like the word for “separate.”

Black and white objects: These are colors of mourning, so black and white objects make for inappropriate gifts.

Four of anything: As explained above, “four” sounds like “death,” so anything that comes in a set of four is a no-no.

Green hats: In Chinese, to “wear a green hat” means “to be cuckolded.”

Feng shui 

Feng Shui literally means “wind and water”. It is an ancient Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing with the surrounding environment. Feng Shui masters use a special compass called a “luopan” and a “bagua”, an octagonal pattern determining the significance and auspicious qualities of spatial relationships to analyze feng shui areas in residences and offices in order to improve the inhabitants’ luck and fortune.

Lucky bamboo plants and indoor water fountains are two of the most recognizable and popular feng shui cures. Bamboo plants symbolize strength and luck, different numbers of bamboo stalks symbolize good feng shui for different aspects. For instance, 2 stalks represent love and marriage, 3 stalks mean happiness, while 8 stalks symbolize prosperity. Water fountains are said to incorporate energy into the household and water has long been regarded as a feng shui symbol of wealth and prosperity.

Dragon gates

Coastal high-rises and skyscrapers in Hong Kong sometimes feature rectangular holes called “dragon gates.” Legend has it that dragons (which represent wisdom, courage and prosperity in Chinese culture) live in mountains. The dragon gates serve as a passageway for these mystical creatures to reach the coast, letting positive energy flow through the building as a result.

Source Internet

Top cultural experiences you cannot miss in Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta is the busy capital city of Indonesia. There are many cultures coming together that make Jakarta very unique. If you are interested in learning the culture of Jakarta, here are cultural experiences in Jakarta.

 Explore the Jakarta Old Town

Once one of the most prominent neighbourhoods during colonial era, Jakarta’s Kota Tua (Old Town) is a slice of history in the bustling metropolitan. The area is packed with old government buildings and trade centers kept alive as museums and heritage sites. From riding a colourful bicycle through Fatahillah Square to taking pictures inside the quirky Rumah Akar, you can conveniently explore the Old Town’s highlights just by strolling around the area.

Read more: 5 places you should not miss in Jakarta

Attend Jakarta Fashion Week

If you have the chance to attend Jakarta Fashion Week then you should definitely do. It is a great way to understand the culture within Jakarta in a stunning way. Some clothing design in Jakarta Fashion Week have designers from all over Indonesia that put the Indonesian culture into their fashion statement.

Explore mini Indonesia

This is your best chance to see Indonesia’s different cultures in just a day. Serving as the miniature of the sprawling archipelago, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah has dedicated areas for every major province or culture in Indonesia. Each area highlights everything you need to know about the culture: traditional houses, customs, attires, and more. You can also explore different science and nature museums, watch documentaries in an iconic cinema, and take a ride on a cable car that goes across the compound.

Enjoy the rich artisan heritage in Java

One of Indonesia’s most popular cultural exports is batik, a fabric seen all around the country, often in Indonesian traditional dress. Batik comes in all colours, patterns and sizes, and is created by tracing designs with wax and then dyed to produce impressively intricate patterns. From touristy gift shops to swanky upscale boutiques, you can find batik pretty much anywhere in Indonesia, but Java is where it originates, and there are plenty of amazing opportunities to see it getting made.

Visit the Museums

There are many museums that lie in Jakarta. For example, you can come to the Jakarta History Museum, the Puppet Museum and the Museum of Fine Art and Ceramic. Moreover, definitely spend some time to visit the National History Museum. There is another interesting museum that you can go to in Jakarta. It is the Kite Museum. Kite is a cultural part in Indonesia since a lot of people are passionate about it.

Source Internet

5 interesting things to do in Cambodia

Discover the sacred temples and traditions of one of South-East Asia's most beloved countries. These things below are the highlights of Cambodia that you need to visit to make the most of your adventure.

1. Watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat

Built in the 12th century, Angkor Wat is believed to be the oldest and largest temple complex in the world. It was once the capital of the Khmer Empire and its front-facing outline has since become a national symbol, featuring on the Cambodian flag, on beer labels and in the name of countless hotels.

The ruins sit in an archaeological park that extends for 400 square kilometres, a scale beyond what many visitors anticipate. Those with ample time should make the most of a three-day or week-long pass to explore its maze of ancient stone structures and water features coated with blossom-pink lotus flowers – not forgetting to investigate the history of the underground city that lies beneath Angkor Wat.

2. Explore its other magnificent temples

Angkor Wat might take priority on the itinerary, but travellers would be missing out if they were to skip Cambodia’s other fascinating temples. You don't need to go far – Angkor Archaeological Park is home to numerous ancient monuments that can be explored at your own leisure on bike or foot.

Angkor Thom can be found in the shadow of Angkor Wat and showcases a series of ancient buildings including Bayon temple, whose 200 stone-carved faces are believed to depict King Jayavarman VII. Ta Prohm might not measure up in magnitude against its sister temples, but it still proves to be a big hit with travellers, after its unconventional overgrown banyan tree roots made a starring appearance in the movie Tomb Raider.

For those seeking a more off-beat spiritual encounter, venture to northern Cambodia to the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear that stands atop a 525 metre cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains. If the ancient ruins don’t beat your expectations, then the panoramic views over lush green forestry bounding into the horizon most certainly will.

3. Sample the street food of Siem Reap

South-East Asian cuisine opens travellers to a whole new range of alternative street food that travellers wouldn’t typically find on market stalls back home. From deep-fried tarantulas and snakes on skewers, to lime and chilli crickets, there really is everything and anything on the menu to choose from.

Aside from these rather niche foods, Cambodian dishes typically use fried noodles or sticky rice as a main ingredient, with an addition of fried vegetables and meat. Lort cha (noodles, bean sprouts, and chives) is typically cooked with beef, topped with a fried egg and is served in a generous portion enough to satisfy a hungry appetite. While amok (fish soup made with coconut milk and red Thai curry paste) has enough lime zest and chilli kick to warm the stomach, and is traditionally steam cooked in a round banana leaf dish.

4. Visit Battambang Bat Caves at sundown

Every evening at the base of Phnom Sampeau mountain, crowds gather in anticipation to observe thousands of bats burst out of a cave hole for their nightly hunt. A stream of black fills the sky, fluttering overhead in a sound wave motion, before dispersing on the star-lit horizon. This astounding display happens like clockwork at 5.30pm each evening, 15km south west of Battambang.

However, the caves of Phnom Sampeau mountain behold a dark history, having been used as an execution site under the rule of Khmer Rouge. Cambodians regard this natural phenomena as the souls of victims freeing themselves from the darkness. There is also a memorial site where people can pay their respects.

5. Take it slow on Koh Rong Island

Just as you think you’ve seen Cambodia at its best, take a short boat trip west of Krong Preah to Koh Rong Island, where sugar-coated beaches and azure waters welcome off-beat travellers. From discovering sandy coves in remote corners to snorkelling alongside diverse marine life among coral reefs, natural beauty flourishes throughout this little-explored island, both on land and in the surrounding waters.

There really is no better way to finish your South-East Asia adventure than with a relaxed evening clinking cocktails in a beach hut bar, watching the sun set over Koh Rong's palm tree shrouded shores.

See more: 7 reasons why you should visit Cambodia at least one time

Source: wanderlust