Wednesday, 4 September 2019

What to eat in Quy Nhon, Vietnam

What to eat in Quy Nhon, Vietnam
Quy Nhon is not only famous for its pristine beaches but also for the wonderful local foods. Only in Quy Nhon will you find one-of-a-kind foods with outstanding taste that cannot be found anywhere else.

Banh beo chen

Banh beo chen
Banh beo chen ("Waterfern cake cup") is a steamed rice-cake in a cup with fried shallots and dried shrimp on top, served with dipping sauce. Students and workers eat cup after cup—the usual portion is 10 cups per person—sitting at small street-side tables throughout Quy Nhon city. Vendors set up on many street corners in the afternoons and early evenings.

Banh beo chen ("Waterfern cake cup") is a steamed rice-cake in a cup with fried shallots and dried shrimp on top, served with dipping sauce. Students and workers eat cup after cup—the usual portion is 10 cups per person—sitting at small street-side tables throughout Quy Nhon city. Vendors set up on many street corners in the afternoons and early evenings.

Banh it la gai

Banh it la gai
The sweet cake banh it la gai ("Little cake with gai leaf") is made from sticky rice, sugar, mung beans, ginger and (sometimes) coconut, enveloped by mashed gai leaf and then all wrapped up in a banana leaf. Mashed up and steamed, it turns a greenish-black colour and adds a slightly bitter and chewy contrast to the aromatic sweetness of the other ingredients. Banh it is sold in stores and by street vendors, e.g. just outside the central market on the northeast corner of Ton Đuc Thang and Truong Chinh streets. The banana-leaf wrapped treat is also offered at many restaurants, where they're stacked up on on the tables; you just take as many as you like and are charged per piece.
The sweet cake banh it la gai ("Little cake with gai leaf") is made from sticky rice, sugar, mung beans, ginger and (sometimes) coconut, enveloped by mashed gai leaf and then all wrapped up in a banana leaf. Mashed up and steamed, it turns a greenish-black colour and adds a slightly bitter and chewy contrast to the aromatic sweetness of the other ingredients. Banh it is sold in stores and by street vendors, e.g. just outside the central market on the northeast corner of Ton Đuc Thang and Truong Chinh streets. The banana-leaf wrapped treat is also offered at many restaurants, where they're stacked up on on the tables; you just take as many as you like and are charged per piece.

Banh hoi with pork and shallots

Banh hoi with pork and shallots
Banh hoi are strings of rice vermicelli woven into small packets, served with pork and fried shallots or with oil and onions. You can find them ready-made for eating in restaurants or for take-away by street-side vendors. The most famous street vendors sell from the morning to the evening at the corner of Tran Phu and Nguyen Cong Tru streets. A take-away order of banh hoi wrapped in banana leaf with oil and chives costs 10,000 dong, while a plate for immediate consumption, served with cooked pork and shallots, costs 20,000 dong.

Banh hoi are strings of rice vermicelli woven into small packets, served with pork and fried shallots or with oil and onions. You can find them ready-made for eating in restaurants or for take-away by street-side vendors. The most famous street vendors sell from the morning to the evening at the corner of Tran Phu and Nguyen Cong Tru streets. A take-away order of banh hoi wrapped in banana leaf with oil and chives costs 10,000 dong, while a plate for immediate consumption, served with cooked pork and shallots, costs 20,000 dong.

Nem cho huyen

Nem cho huyen
Nem cho huyen ("Huyen market roll") is a pork roll with peanut sauce, chili and herbs. Known as a specialty of the Phuong Mai peninsula, the roll packs salty, sweet, sour and spicy in one small bite. It can be made with either fresh pork, which is grilled over charcoal with sugar, salt and pigskin, or fermented pork, which is wrapped in a guava leaf for three days to give it a sour pungent flavour and then covered with a banana leaf for serving. One roll can be eaten as a quick snack, or many are eaten together as a full meal. You can find the rolls in many local restaurants and street vendors throughout Quy Nhon city.

Nem cho huyen ("Huyen market roll") is a pork roll with peanut sauce, chili and herbs. Known as a specialty of the Phuong Mai peninsula, the roll packs salty, sweet, sour and spicy in one small bite. It can be made with either fresh pork, which is grilled over charcoal with sugar, salt and pigskin, or fermented pork, which is wrapped in a guava leaf for three days to give it a sour pungent flavour and then covered with a banana leaf for serving. One roll can be eaten as a quick snack, or many are eaten together as a full meal. You can find the rolls in many local restaurants and street vendors throughout Quy Nhon city.

Hong cake

Hong cake
Hong (pink) cake is one of the specialties in Binh Dinh province. Hong cake, which is made from sticky rice and sugar, originally had a milky white color but a cheery pink color was later added. The sticky rice used must be fresh and of a superior quality to ensure the characteristic chewy consistency and good taste for the cake, whose pink hue is produced by the flesh of gac (small red jackfruit-like gourd) and the green by la dua (a kind of pandanus leaf).

Hong (pink) cake is one of the specialties in Binh Dinh province. Hong cake, which is made from sticky rice and sugar, originally had a milky white color but a cheery pink color was later added. The sticky rice used must be fresh and of a superior quality to ensure the characteristic chewy consistency and good taste for the cake, whose pink hue is produced by the flesh of gac (small red jackfruit-like gourd) and the green by la dua (a kind of pandanus leaf).

Bun cha ca

Bun cha ca
Among the countless types of noodle in Vietnam, bun ca Quy Nhon is one of the most popular ones. It is so easy to spot a cart that sells bun ca when you’re in Quy Nhon but the preparation requires a lot of effort.  Every ingredient has to be prepared separately the night before. From kneading, shaping, and boiling a mixture of rice powder and flour to make the vermicelli; to elaborately making the fish fillet and patiently stewing the fishbone and head for hours to make a flavourful broth, this dish will not disappoint. A bowl of fish noodles is usually served with a dish of fresh herbs. It tastes even better when you dip the fish fillet in the fish sauce.

Among the countless types of noodle in Vietnam, bun cha ca Quy Nhon is one of the most popular ones. It is so easy to spot a cart that sells bun ca when you’re in Quy Nhon but the preparation requires a lot of effort. Every ingredient has to be prepared separately the night before. From kneading, shaping, and boiling a mixture of rice powder and flour to make the vermicelli; to elaborately making the fish fillet and patiently stewing the fishbone and head for hours to make a flavourful broth, this dish will not disappoint. A bowl of fish noodles is usually served with a dish of fresh herbs. It tastes even better when you dip the fish fillet in the fish sauce.

See more: Experience a cool summer in Quy Nhon
Source: Internet

Top attractions to visit in Kanazawa, Japan

Top attractions to visit in Kanazawa, Japan
Kanazawa is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan. Thanks to the new shinkansen, it will be easier to get there. Why don't you visit the historic city on your next vacation?

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
This circular and light-filled museum focuses on art produced since 1980 and is heavy on installations, video and mixed-media pieces, much of it playful, energetic and thought provoking. The museum holds a variety of display spaces and function rooms and the museum is spacious enough to absorb the huge crowds that usually fill the place. 

Higashi Chaya District

Higashi Chaya District
Higashi Chaya is the main entertainment district in Kanazawa. It is a charming area of teahouses much like Gion in Kyoto and has its own community of geisha.

The photogenic streets of Higashi Chaya are perfect for a morning or afternoon stroll with a stop at one of the many cafes or historic tea houses. If you are looking for a special souvenir, there are many craft shops to browse including the glittering Hakuza Gold Leaf Store where you can visit their tea ceremony room completely covered in gold leaf.

Kanazawa Station

Kanazawa Station
Kanazawa Station is one of the gates of Kanazawa to visitors. The station has a huge glass dome called the Motenashi Dome. The Motenashi Dome looks like a huge umbrella and it is said that this dome is offering visitors an umbrella as Kanazawa has many rainy days.

There is a huge wooden gate called the Tsuzumimon  in Kanazawa station. A tsuzumi is traditional Japanese hand drum, and "mon" means gate. When you arrive at Kanazawa station, you can feel the welcoming mood and historical atmosphere right away.

D.T. Suzuki Museum

D.T. Suzuki Museum
D.T. Suzuki was the Japanese writer responsible for introducing Zen Buddhism to the West. The D.T. Suzuki Museum is the perfect monument to the man and his work. Like Zen, the museum invites you to contemplate and empty your mind of distraction. The water “garden” outside the museum is sublime and do not miss the fine traditional Japanese garden behind it.

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
Often overlooked by visitors who rush to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, this fine museum of Japanese art is well worth a visit. The small but excellent collection covers the main fields of Japanese art. And, downstairs, there is a brilliant café where you can refuel with some delicious coffee, tea and pastries.

Omicho Market

Omicho Market
Omicho Market has been in the center of Kanazawa for more than 280 years. In the market, there are large numbers of stores including fish stores, vegetable stores, grocery stores, and so on.

In some fish stores, they offer a special sushi where you can taste fresh fish caught in the Sea of Japan. You may also find unique Kaga vegetables grown in the Hokuriku area. Omicho Market is always very crowded, but you must visit.

Read more: Top 5 hot springs in Japan

Source Internet

Tuesday, 3 September 2019

Must-visit attractions in Kuching, Malaysia

Sarawak in Malaysia attracts tourists for jungle-related activities, cities with a small-town feel and its rich and diverse ethnic culture and traditions. Kuching, the state capital, is often the first port of call.

Must-visit attractions in Kuching, Malaysia

Sarawak’s White Rajahs

Must-visit attractions in Kuching, Malaysia
The clock tower is located inside the complex
The Astana, or ‘Palace’ in English, always features on lists of the must-visit attractions in Kuching. Sitting elegantly on the banks of the River Sarawak, the 1870 colonial palace exudes grandeur. Formerly the residence of Sarawak’s White Rajahs, it’s now the Governor of Sarawak’s seat and isn’t open to the public. Manicured lawns and a fence surround the palace with ‘Astana’ spelled out in giant white letters. Stand on the opposite side of the river for the best photographs. Return after dark when the palace lights up.

Tua Pek Kong Temple

Must-visit attractions in Kuching, Malaysia
Dating back to 1843, Tua Pek Kong holds the title as Kuching’s oldest Chinese temple. Located in the heart of the city centre near the Waterfront and Chinese Museum, the colourful façade welcomes curious visitors. While the Taoist temple might not be an obvious entry into the list of the must-visit attractions in Kuching, it does provide cultural insights into the city’s past and hosts several annual festivals.

Cat Museum

Must-visit attractions in Kuching, Malaysia
Cat monument in Kuching city center
Sarawak’s name translates as ‘Cat’ in English, giving the nickname ‘City of Cats’. The world’s first cat museum covers four galleries inside the City Hall buildings. With over 4,000 items covering everything related to felines, this is a must-visit attraction in Kuching for cat lovers. Since opening in 1988, the Cat Museum gets thousands of annual visitors. Expect to find figurines, photographs, posters and a rare Egyptian mummified cat.

Bako National Park

Must-visit attractions in Kuching, Malaysia
Holding the title as Sarawak’s oldest and one of the state’s smallest, Bako National Park can be reached within an hour to the northeast of Kuching. After taking a boat to the park entrance, visitors can hike along colour-coded trails, visit beaches and go wildlife-spotting in the many habitats. Highlights include its resident population of endemic proboscis monkeys, slow loris and pangolins, as well as 190 species of birds, lizards and other mammals. Bako National Park is an ideal place to go wildlife-spotting and experience Sarawak’s rainforests.

Sarawak State Museum

Must-visit attractions in Kuching, Malaysia
Borneo’s oldest museum first opened in 1891. The White Rajah at the time, Charles Brookes, had a passion for natural history and commissioned the Sarawak State Museum. Several displays cover all aspects of Sarawak from ethnographic exhibits and traditional longhouses to Neolithic artefacts, natural specimens and both Chinese and Islamic art. The grand three-storied colonial building housing the museum is a masterpiece in itself.

Read more: Experience Malaysian cuisine in a day

Source Internet