Top Christmas foods in the Philippines

With 80% of the population are Roman Catholic, Philippines is one of the Asian countries that celebrates Christmas the most. Consequently, the country has a lot of traditional dishes for the festive season.

Puto Bumbong

Puto bumbong is an icon in the Filipino Christmas holidays and it’s a breakfast staple for people who go to church to attend the Misa de Gallo, the Catholic mass held during the early mornings before Christmas day.

The dish is a type of purple rice cake that is baked inside a bamboo tube. It is served on a pre-cut banana leaf and then topped with other ingredients like butter, thin strips of coconut, and sugar.

Lechon

Roasted whole pig is no stranger to Filipino celebrations and in Christmas, preparing this very special food makes family members excitedly look forward to Christmas every year. One whole pig can feed an entire family, but the best thing about lechon can be experienced after the holidays.

The leftover roasted pig can be re-cooked and transformed into a Filipino after-holiday favorite: lechon paksiw. Basically, it’s chopped meat that is slow-cooked in the concoction of coconut vinegar, garlic, onion, and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Paella

The dish is a reminder of the enduring Spanish influence on Filipino cuisine and festival celebrations. This very special Christmas food, however, is not that easy to make because of its long list of ingredients including fresh seafood.

Preparing paella in earlier times signifies the wealth of a family or clan because the ingredients are usually expensive. While it’s still true nowadays, anyone with the recipe and the ingredients can experience the delectable and unique flavors that paella has to offer.

Queso de Bola

Literally translates as a “ball of cheese”, keso (or queso) de bola is a staple Christmas food for Filipinos all over the country. This particular cheese variety does not have a strong flavor like its other cousins. However, just like other types of cheese, it’s creamy and salty. It also has a unique sweetness to it – and its appearance is also one-of-a-kind: it’s covered in red, edible wax.

Embutido

Embutido is a local name for the Filipino-style meatloaf that is often prepared during special occasions like town fiestas, birthdays, weddings, and most importantly, Christmas. Just like any meatloaf, it is made of ground meat, added with other ingredients like carrots, raisins, cheese, garlic, etc.

Aside from the fact that it is easy to prepare, it does not take a lot of effort to cook embutido (bake or fry). Moreover, several commercial meat vendors even offer pre-made embutido so you won’t go through the hassle of starting from scratch.

Leche Flan

Leche Flan is one of the most popular Filipino desserts and is also a top item in the list of the most delicious Christmas food in the country. It is made with ingredients that you can easily find in the kitchen: eggs, milk, and sugar.

Leche flan is like a Filipino v ersion of the European crème caramel. It is basically an egg custard with a soft caramel on top. Unlike other Filipino desserts, it is easier to make and it usually has a longer shelf-life so it can just be stored in the fridge even after the holidays.

See more: Top 5 popular Christmas dishes in Japan

Source: Internet

The worth-visiting cities in China

A picturesque country full of diverse landscapes, cuisine and culture, China boasts captivating cities that showcase its colorful contrasts, from gleaming skyscrapers to cobbled alleyways. It is a country where you can experience ancient traditions and visit world-class attractions, and spend your time exploring iconic landmarks, meeting pandas and meandering through the quiet countryside. From the Great Wall in Beijing to the UNESCO-listed streets of Lijiang, here are some of the best cities to visit in China.

Shanghai

Shanghai is a city that sprawls and seethes with the energy of more than 24 million people and is one of the world’s largest cities. It gradually increased in importance as a city throughout the dynastic ages of the Song and Ming, but it was under the Qing that it boomed to become the most important trading port on the Yangtze River Delta.

In the present day Shanghai is much the same and the shimmering skyscrapers on the Bund are testament to the city’s trading power. You will still find traces of the old however in the numerous historic buildings and the leafy canals of the French Concession.

Hangzhou

Famed for its natural scenery, Hangzhou and its West Lake have been immortalized by countless poets and artists. In the 13th century Marco Polo described the city as the most beautiful and magnificent in the world. Hangzhou’s most famous sight, West Lake, is a large lake separated by causeways and lined with ancient buildings and gardens designed for relaxation and spirituality. Visitors will find pagodas, temples, walking paths and tea farms along its shores.

Chengdu

Found in the Sichuan province, Chengdu is China’s panda capital. Home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, this city is one of the best places to see these iconic animals.
The research base is dedicated to the breeding and conservation of giant pandas, with a population that has grown from just six in 1987 to over 80 today. And alongside observing them, visitors can learn all about the species at the Giant Panda Museum. Whilst in Chengdu, be sure to check out the city’s tea house culture. The city is also famous for its Sichuan cuisine, so don’t leave without trying a bite or two.

Guilin

Guilin, with its marvelous limestone scenery, is renowned as one of the most beautiful place on earth. On his tour, Former US President Nixon remarked: "I have found that no city can surpass the beauty of Guilin."

Xi’an

Guilin is an hour due west from Hong Kong by air. A tour of Hong Kong can be easily combined with a Guilin tour for visa-free travel.

Xi’an was once the start of the indispensable Silk Road that made commerce between many countries in Eurasia possible. It was also the imperial seat for no fewer than eleven dynasties, before the unification of China between 1000 BC and 1000 AD making it one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Its most famous attractions is the rather recently discovered Terracotta Army, the protectors of the tomb of the first emperor of China. Xi’an also boast 14th century city walls that are more than 12 km (8 miles) long. They are not only a part of the city history, but traveling in Xi’an sometimes requires going under, on or around them.

See more: Top 10 attractions to visit in Xian, China

Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China and a typical big city that never sleeps. With a population of over 21 million, it is slightly smaller than Shanghai, although it is also the political center of the country and home of iconic spots like Tiananmen Square.

One of the big draws here is the fascinating Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived, and you will find opulent ceramics, artwork, fountains and thrones here. The National Museum of China is also located in Beijing and is one of the most acclaimed art institutions in the country.

Source Internet

The best restaurants in Genting Highlands, Malaysia

One of the best ways to enjoy your trip to the Genting Highlands is to savour various cuisines amid great atmosphere, beautiful sceneries, and cool weather. Here are the best restaurants to try in Genting Highlands.

Ming Ren Restaurant

The lamb dishes are Ming Ren Restaurant’s specialty and are cooked and prepared very meticulously. The aroma makes your palate itch to have a taste of it. This meal is prepared via extraordinary Cantonese cooking methods, complete with traditional spices and seasonings. This restaurant has an extensive menu of lamb delicacies, including cold dish, Braised Lamb with Radish, Lamb Kut Teh Soup, Roasted Lamb Ribs, and Lamb Ice Cream drizzled with pistachio sauce and topped with almond slices.

Hou-Mei Noodle House

Slurp delicious noodles at Hou-Mei Noodle House right outside the casino at First World Plaza. Their portions are big enough to share with your friends and family. They even have monthly special dish offers. We recommend eating Curry Laksa Noodle, Beef Brisket Noodle, Assam Laksa, and Ipoh Hor Fun Noodle. If you prefer having rice, there are also porridges as well as various meat served with rice such as Hainan Chicken Rice. It’s the perfect place to have lunch after taking the cable car ride to Genting Highlands Resort.

Chuan Kie Restaurant

Stop by at the Chuan Kie Restaurant in Gohtong Jaya to have lunch before heading up to Genting Highlands Resort via cable car ride. Enjoy the cool breeze while relishing Chinese delicacies. The price is reasonable for four to five dishes served in portions to a group of four people. We suggest eating Stir Fry Vegetables (eggplant, French beans, and winged beans), Wild Boar Curry, Steamed Tilapia Fish, Salted Vegetable Soup, Crispy Pork Belly, and Honey Ginger Chicken.

Hou Wan Restaurant

Hou Wan Restaurant serves simple home-cooked Chinese dishes for you to enjoy lunch in Gohtong Jaya. The price of these tasty delicacies is affordable. Order stir-fry noodles to go with meat and vegetable dishes. Try the Dry-fried Prosperity Noodles, Steamed Frog Legs, Hokkien Mee, and Fresh Water Prawns Braised Noodles. If you plan to have seafood, ask the waiter for the price and weight of seasonal dishes. You can have meals outside the restaurants to feel Genting Highlands’ cool weather.

Good Friends Restaurant

Relish mouthwatering dim sum and Hakka cuisine in Good Friends Restaurant’s relaxing and family-friendly ambience. The restaurant is decorated with detailed Chinese elements, including the grand entrance (red doors and dragon carvings). Their dishes are suitable for people of all ages. Try their signature Hakka dishes – Home-Style Braised Streaky Pork with Preserved Vegetables, and Braised Sliced Pork with Chinese Wine in Claypot. Satisfy your dessert cravings by having Almond Bean Curd Jelly served with almond syrup and topped with longan.

Coffee Terrace

Coffee Terrace is a buffet restaurant with a large dining area, serving a wide range of cuisines to choose from. There are four sections in the restaurant – Private Room, Lanai Bar, Nyonya Baba Corner, and Al Fresco Terrace. Choose your favourite food at the Flavours of Malaysia, Chinese, Western, Japanese, Western Asian, Dessert and Fruits Corner. You can have as many as you want until you are happily full. The restaurant is open during breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. Prices vary depending on the time of day.

Burger & Lobster

London’s Burger & Lobster established their first outlet in Southeast Asia at SkyAvenue, Genting Highlands. You will need to be patient with the long queue to get a table, but it is worth the wait to savour the Lobsters (from Nova Scotia, Canada), Lobster Rolls (juicy lobster meat served in toasted brioche rolls with Chilli, Original, or Seven Samurai sauce) and Burgers. Dig into their signature dish, the Chilli Lobster (only in Genting Highlands), served in a claypot with brioche, which you can dip into the spicy sauce.

See more: Top 10 things to do in Cameron highlands, Malaysia

Source: Internet