Do not miss these food when travelling to North Korea

North Korea has a rich culinary heritage shared with the South Korea. Dishes originating during ancient Korea remain heavily influential to modern cuisine in both preparation and presentation. You can count on a diet heavy on rice, vegetables and meats, it is not just kimchi! Here are seven popular and delicious foods in North Korea!

Naengmyeon

Naengmyeon, or simply known as “Pyongyang Cold Noodle Soup”, is a must-try dish made all throughout Korea but most famously (and in this writer’s humble opinion) best made in Pyongyang. Do not forget to add the essential ingredients of vinegar, soy sauce and hot mustard to make the mild broth exactly to your tastes. The more hot-mustard-induced nostril burnage the better.

Maize Porridge

North Koreans often eat maize porridge, also known as juk, for breakfast and snacks according to The Daily Meal. Do not think oatmeal when you are picturing it, though, because typically the North Korean porridge is savory, not full of brown sugar and raisins. Porridge is easy to make, you just boil rice or another grain and add basically whatever else strikes your fancy, like veggies or seafood. It is also easy to digest, and provides a satisfying hot meal with which to start the day.

Dolsot Bibimbap

Dolsot in Korean means ‘stone pot’ and bibimbap literally translates to ‘mixed rice’. It is a simple yet classic example of Korean cuisine where white rice is topped by assorted vegetables, meats, and fried egg, which are then seasoned. The dish arrives at the table still cooking, sizzling away and ready to garnish with red bean paste and soy. Soup is then added to the stone pot and it is stirred thoroughly before eating. Dolsot bibimbap is easily altered into a vegetarian option. Be sure to also ask your Korean guides to share the fable of how bibimbap originated!

Boiled Rice

North Koreans eat a lot of rice, according to the Los Angeles Times, much like South Koreans. When they can get it, that is. Because of the cold temperatures in North Korea, it is difficult to grow rice, so many opt for millet and potatoes, which are more plentiful, as a daily staple.

Korean BBQ

Do not have a penchant for clams with an aftertaste of gasoline? Never fear! Korean BBQ over a smoky charcoal grill is still very much available. Most commonly found are BBQ joints serving up lamb, duck and seafood.

Hotpot

Perfect for those cold winter nights in North Korea, especially Pyongyang, let your hot-pot broth marinate in the flavours of pork, tofu and an assortment of vegetables. When eating at the famous ‘Hot Pot Restaurant’ in Pyongyang, you can add salt, pepper, chili and piles of straight-up powdered MSG (looks like salt but more crystal-y) to your own tastes.

Sinseollo

Sinseollo is another dish that North Koreans generally order when they are out to dinner, according to The Daily Meal. They might pay anywhere from $7 to $40 for a hot pot filled with vegetables, dumplings, and possibly meat in a rich broth. Diners cook the dish themselves, over a pan of water on top of a coal fire, or in a vessel that looks like a Bundt pan with hot embers in the middle to keep the meal hot.

See more: Things to know before traveling to North Korea

Source Internet

The unusual things to do in Beijing, China

The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace, the Olympic precinct, eye-popping temples around every corner, Beijing is home to a lengthy list of huge tourist drawcards that attract equally huge crowds. But if you are looking for attractions that you might not find in the guidebooks, try these unusual things to do around the Chinese capital.

Ride a tandem bike around Houhai Lake

Houhai Lake is one of the hippest spots in Beijing. It is also known as the “back lake” and is surrounded by restaurants, bars, coffee houses, and boutiques set along cobblestone lanes.
To save on rickshaw fees, hit up one of the bicycle rental stands, which rent by the hour and day, and pedal yourself around the lake. You can even pick up a three-person tandem.

Eat creepy crawlies at Wangfujing Snack Street

While the Wangfujing Snack Street might be touristy, there is no doubt that it is unusual. Scorpions on a stick, silkworms, rabbit heads, seahorses, donkey meat, boiled tripe, snake, wasp larvae, pig brains, lamb spine, the infamous fermented ‘stinky tofu’, these dishes certainly are not what Western visitors are used to seeing on the menu. You will find similar stalls at the Donghuamen Night Market near the Forbidden City, too.

Go karaoke

Karaoke is a staple of the social fabric in China, just like in other East Asian nations. Do not miss out. Venues can be found in most hotels and seemingly along every major street. They are sometimes called KTV, so watch for that on signs.

Check in and pay for a specified amount of time at the front desk, after which you will be escorted to a private room with audio-visual equipment, microphones, a TV, and couches. You can order drinks and sometimes food.

Delve into an underground palace

Located 45 kilometres (28 miles) north of Beijing, the Dingling Tomb is a subterranean mausoleum offering a glimpse into China’s imperial past. While Chairman Mao raided many of the other 13 famous Ming Dynasty Tombs during the Cultural Revolution, this one was opened as a museum in 1959, inviting visitors inside the haunting 400-year-old burial place of the Wanli emperor and his two empresses.

Try cupping therapy

Around China, you will notice some people with giant purple polka-dots on their skin. It is not an exotic disease; it is evidence of cupping therapy, an ancient form of traditional medicine where heated cups are applied to the skin creating local suction.

Cupping therapy is believed to treat a wide range of medical conditions, from rheumatic diseases to blood disorders and skin problems, even though no evidence exists to support these claims.

See more: Dishes you must try before leaving Beijing

Source Internet

Top things to do in Doha, Qatar

Known for its melting pot of cultures, a thriving tourism scene and a mix of the old world and the new, Doha is a fascinating spot to explore. If you’re planning a trip to the capital of Qatar, take a look at our round-up of the best experiences around.

Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum

Qatar has a thriving art scene – there are many fascinating museums across the city, each with their own unique selling point. That said, there is something so personal and exclusive about the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassin Al Thani Museum that it has become a bucket list item for many people in Doha. Situated just 25km (15.5 miles) outside of Doha, and built in the form of a fort, the museum is home to some 15,000 artefacts which are all personally owned by Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani. The museum houses the world’s smallest Qur’an, a collection of over 600 cars – one of the largest collections in the world – and pays homage to the Sheikh’s travels from around the globe.

If this doesn’t pique your interest, perhaps the fact that the museum is home to a traditional Syrian house might – the house was transported by the Sheikh to the museum – not to mention other exhibits including the Falcon of the Gulf, an aircraft used by the founder of Qatar Airways, as well as tapestries, books, weapons, and religious scriptures. The museum isn’t just a great way to see myriad items from the around the world, but it’s also an opportunity to feel a close connection to the owner for showcasing his personal collection.

Dine at a five-star restaurant

When it comes to five-star dining in Doha, the options are endless. Big international chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Wolfgang Puck, and Masaharu Morimoto have all set up shop in this Middle Eastern city, and for good reason too, as the city’s ever-changing food scene means there’s always something new to savour. You’ll also find internationally acclaimed restaurants such as Market by Jean-Georges, Spice Market, La Spiga, Nobu and Hakkasan all available to dine at in this thriving metropolis.

There’s something to be said about the process of booking a table at one these five-star restaurants, getting kitted to the nines and really enjoying a night out on the town. And, if you’re lucky enough to book at the right time, you might be able to book when one of these chefs are in town doing special menus, cooking classes or launching new dishes at their restaurant, as was the case recently at Hakkasan with Chef Ho Che Boon.

Picnic at Al Bidda Park

Pack a picnic basket, grab a picnic blanket, and visit Al Bidda Park. Find a spot under one the trees for shade, kick back and relax. This sanctuary in the middle of the city is the ideal escape from the hustle and bustle to unwind and stroll the pathways (or cycle the bike paths) while taking in the greenery and flora. The sprawling park offers barbecue facilities, amazing views of the city, children’s facilities and is impeccably clean. Find a spot close to the built-in barbecue areas where you can toss on your favourite meats. Al Bidda Park has become the talk of the town after re-opening recently since being closed since 2014 for refurbishments. The ultimate haven away from the city, it’s something off-the-beaten-track for visitors and therefore worth the visit.

Visit a ghost town

Escape the city of Doha and visit Zekreet’s Film City for a weird and wonderful experience on the outskirts of the capital. Built for an Arabic TV series, this now abandoned TV set has become a place to explore for many visiting Doha. The mini ‘city’ is built in a similar vein to the old settlements of the pearl diving era of Qatar. The geology of this region is also worth a mention as it’s unlike any other part of Qatar, which is generally made up of fine desert sand, as it’s rockier than what you’d normally see. And, just in case you need one final reason to explore, make sure you check out the views of the Gulf Peninsula, perfect for taking some stunning images. Be sure to book a tour to visit Zekreet as it requires a four-wheel drive vehicle to get there.

Cruise the open waters

Doha is almost always about the water. Go to the man-made island of the Pearl and ask for a table, and you’ll likely be asked: “By the water?”. Hotels, the Corniche, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Souq are all strategically placed for views of the Arabian sea, so venturing into these waters is a must. Again, the options are endless and you can choose from a short and sweet cruise at the Corniche which lasts around 30 minutes and takes you around the West Bay area, or go ‘full speed ahead’ and grab your best pals to charter a yacht on the open waters of the sea.

Middle Eastern hospitality is all about making guests feel like they are absolute royalty, so you’re likely to get an exclusive, personalised experience of food, drinks, music, spa and gym facilities. Live your best life with this experience as you sail out to the crystal waters of the Arabian sea dressed in your best threads and take in the views, the sounds and sights before taking a dip into the ocean where you could spend a lovely afternoon swimming in some the warmest waters in the world, before heading back to the city and watching the sun go down and the sky light up in stars. Pure magic!

Sneak in a chapati and Karak tea

Get a taste of an ancient ‘tradition’ of the Middle East, although adopted from India. Chapati bread here is freshly prepared and piping hot, smothered with peanut butter or Nutella, and is served with a spicy cardamon-infused Karak tea, which is combined with milk and black tea leaves brewed for hours. Though this might sound a little simple, it’s precisely this simplicity that makes the experience so unique: it’s much more than just a cup of tea and a chapati, it’s a true taste of culture in Qatar. If you’re still struggling to believe that the chapati and Karak tea combo can be this fulfilling, just take a look at all the cars and people lining up daily for their fix at the Chapati & Karak at Katara Cultural Village.

See more: Things you may not know about Qatar

Source: Internet