The best desserts you could find in Turkey

Turkey may be synonymous with baklava, however, the country’s rich cuisine has many more amazing desserts with origins in all its various regions. From milk desserts to deep fried and extremely sweet snacks, here are some excellent desserts you definitely need to try out.

Tavuk Göğsü

This thick pudding has very thin slices of chicken breast and is often served with maraş ice cream and cinnamon. If chicken is not your thing, you can try kazandibi, which is the same thick pudding except with a burnt caramel top.

Şekerpare

Ridiculously sweet, these little cakes are made with an almond-based dough and then soaked with a hot sugar syrup. By the time they’re cold, Şekerpare is a bit hard and crumbly but melts in your mouth to reveal the sweet syrup.

Muhallebi

Another one of Turkey’s most popular milk desserts, muhallebi is a pudding that’s made with mastic and often covered with grated pistachios. Of course, you can always ask for a scoop of maraş ice cream as well.

Künefe

A specialty of the Antakya region, künefe is composed of two layers of crunch kadayıf (shredded pastry) with a thick layer of melted cheese in between and soaked with sugar syrup. The melted cheese and the sweet syrup go together perfectly, while the crunch of the kadayıf (always topped with grated pistachio) is divine.

Pişmaniye

The closest thing you can get to cotton candy in Turkey, pişmaniye is made by blending flour roasted in butter, which is then pulled into fine strands. In some regions, you can get pişmaniye covered in milk chocolate, which is extremely sweet and glorious.

Ayva Tatlısı

A wintertime favorite, ayva tatlısı is made by boiling quince with cloves and sweet syrup and then filling them with kaymak (clotted cream) and walnuts. The same dessert is also made with pumpkin and is just as heavenly.

Aşure

One of the only Turkish desserts with no animal products, aşure is a type of pudding made with grains, fruits, dried fruits, and nuts. You’ll see Turks enjoying this dessert in large quantities during Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.

Revani

Also known as Basbousa in Egypt, the Turkish revani dessert is made from a semolina cake that’s soaked in simple syrup. Some revani recipes also add an extra touch, such as rose water, to the syrup to make the dessert even more fragrant.

Cevizli Sucuk

Sucuk is usually known as Turkey’s fermented sausage with many herbs, however, cevizli sucuk is an entirely different creation. Made by dipping a string with walnuts into a grape molasses mixture, the sweet sucuk is then hung out to dry and cut into pieces and enjoyed as a gummi-like dessert.

Tulumba Tatlısı

This very sweet dessert is made by deep frying unleavened dough balls and then soaking them in syrup while they’re still hot. Tulumba is always crunchy on the outside and soft and very sweet on the inside and is sometimes even served with chocolate sauce.

See more: Where to go shopping in Istanbul, Turkey

Source: theculturetrip

A guide to the Maeklong Railway Market in Bangkok

While Talad Rod Fai boasts of being Bangkok’s first train market, it is nowhere even near it; this market was moved in 2013 after it became too large for its previous location. There is one market, however, that actually sits atop train tracks. As the train comes charging down, the market is transformed to allow it to pass. If you are in Bangkok and have an entire day without plans, head to the Maeklong Railway Market — here is everything you need to know before you visit.

History

The Maeklong Railway Market has been around since 1905. It is found in the province of Samut Songkhram, located on the Gulf of Thailand. Fishing was (and still is) one of the main livelihoods of the people who lived here, and the market was another way in which to sell their goods. Officials decided to build a railway in order to better deliver these goods to provinces around Thailand, including the capital. The market remained, however, despite the new tracks that cut through it.

You will hear the train long before you actually see it. Vendors and merchants collectively begin to coolly move their belongings and umbrellas away from the tracks as the train barrels forward, laying on its horn every now and then to warn people of its inevitable passing; this is why the market is also known as the ‘umbrella pulldown’ market.

Baskets of goods are dragged away from the tracks, the overhead tents are drawn back and the tracks are cleared, making way for the train. Those hoping to capture a photo are waved back by those who suspect they are a little too close for comfort to the tracks. You will be able to spot those who work at the market and those who do not almost instantly; visitors of the market, whether they are Thai or foreigners, will have cell phones in hand, smiles on their faces, and will be shifting back and forth to position themselves for the perfect photo. Those who work there, however, watch this train go by up to eight times a day and get little to no thrill of its passing.

Watch as the food you are about to devour is literally run over by the train as it passes. The train is so close you can reach out and touch it as it zooms by, though we do not recommend doing this.

What To Buy

The quality of this market lies in its novelty and the train that passes through … not necessarily its goods. It is here where you will find mainly food for sale. While there will certainly be some clothing and accessories available, the bulk of this market is made up of Thai sweets, meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits and drinks. If you were expecting a plethora of souvenirs, think again.

How To Get There

You will find the Maeklong Railway Market about 80 kilometers outside of the city, located in the Samut Songkhram region. Depending on Bangkok’s traffic, it takes just over an hour to get there. There are a few ways you can get to this market — the first and certainly one of the most convenient ways is to take the BTS Skytrain to station Victory Monument and grab a minibus. These buses leave as soon as one is filled, so you never know when your departure time will be. Be sure to look up the train timetable before heading out so that you do not miss it. Be aware, however, that these times are subject to change, and the trains are oftentimes late.

You can also book private tours to visit the market. These tours usually include a stop at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market as well, as they are only about 25 minutes away from one another. These tours range from ฿1,500-2,000.

See more: What to buy in Bangkok, Thailand

Source the culture trip

What to do in Pulau Ubin, Singapore

Pulau Ubin is in essence, the last 'kampung' (village) in Singapore. A stroll through Ubin takes you back to Singapore in the 1960's with the simpler pleasures of life. The slow lane starts as soon as you join the queue for the bumboat at Changi. As you arrive, all cares are left behind.

Explore Ubin Town

Located next to the main jetty, Ubin Town offers the first glimpses of life on Singapore’s offshore island. Admire the wayang (Chinese opera) stage, or feast on locally farmed seafood sourced from one of Pulau Ubin’s 60 floating fish farms. If you travel there on right season, you will even find tropical fruits including durians, rambutans and jackfruit for sale along the jetty.

Meet marine wildlife at Chek Jawa

The Chek Jawa wetlands are one of the main attractions of Pulau Ubin and home to a thriving ecosystem of the country’s largest collection of wildlife. To access Chek Jawa, you need to park your bicycle and travel by foot since the boardwalks are fragile and narrow. The wetlands mostly consist of mangroves, rocky shores and a sandy shore. During low tide, expect to see the small marine creatures like mudskippers, crabs and smaller fish. For a richer understanding of the wildlife in Check Jawa, join a guided walking tour and learn from the experts.

Visit house No. 1

This black and white Tudor-style house was built in the 1930s as a retreat for the Chief Surveyor of Singapore and has supposedly the country's only working fireplace. Inside, visitors can learn more about Chek Jawa's history and wildlife, make sure to take a walk down the jetty at the rear for great views to the mainland.

Set up your camping ground

After a long adventure exploring Pulau Ubin, many people opt to spend the night under the stars. There are several designated camping spots on the island, alongside bigger hotels and resorts. There are no permits required to camp in Pulau Ubin, but be sure to have sufficient battery, food and water throughout to last you through the night. Sleeping in complete darkness surrounded by the sounds of birds and insects makes for a startling contrast to the dazzling lights of the city across the water.

Visit Jejawi Tower

Located in the Chek Jawa Wetlands, this 20m-high viewing tower has a fantastic view of the surrounding jungle and ocean. Keep an eye out for the abundant bird life,k you may also be lucky enough to see some monkeys. The tower is well signposted.

Read more: 9 reasons why Changi Airport is the best airport in the world

How to get there

To get to Ubin, board a bumboat at Changi Point Ferry Terminal (daily, 5.30am-9pm). Boat fares are priced at $3/person for a single trip and each ride takes about 15 minutes. Take note that the boats to Ubin run on an irregular schedule as they only depart once they have 12 people on board. Fees are paid directly to the driver and are collected before the boat jets off. An extra $2 is charged if you bring along a bicycle.

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