Tag: travel

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Eat, Play, Love in Turkey

Turkish Tea time

Saying my expectation for Turkey was extremely high would be an understatement. I don’t think I had ever been that excited before holiday, even though I had been to many incredible places in the past. And thankfully, Turkey had exceeded my expectations by far. From the stunning natural beauty of Cappadocia to the rich history and culture of exotic Istanbul, the country had everything I wanted.

Hot air balloon Turkey

Watching sunrise in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia was a dream. I had to wake up at 4am (I am more like staying up till 4am rather than waking up at 4am person) but it was all worth it. It was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had, and I would go back and do it again in a heartbeat, maybe even in cold winter with snow. Continue reading Eat, Play, Love in Turkey

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Vietnamese Cooking Class in Nha Trang

Vietnamese homecooked meal

Vietnam has a special place in my heart. It was the first foreign country that I had lived for a few months, guess you could say it was my first home away from home. I had a few family members living in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City in early 2000s, and I spent about 6 months there and traveled around the country before I went to college in London.

I also went back a few times afterwards, and the country has been changing like nowhere else I’ve ever seen. My recent trip to Nha Trang was yet another proof. Nha trang is a coastal resort city near Saigon probably best known for its gorgeous white sandy beaches. The beaches really are stunning, but the city has so much more to offer in terms of hustling and bustling markets, local eateries, stylish restaurants, and nightlife. Continue reading Vietnamese Cooking Class in Nha Trang

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Balinese “Gado Gado” inspired vegetables in peanut sauce

I came back from Bali earlier this month. And as expected, it was a paradise and more. Actually Bali had been off our holiday destinations list for a while. It was because of an unfortunate incident my husband had, which led to him getting stranded at the airport (old one, not the shiny new one they have now) and having to sleep in a room with a rat many years ago. Understandably he was quite traumatized by what happened and I almost gave up on going to Bali ever. So it was a real surprise that he suggested Bali as our late summer holiday destination. And I am so happy that he’s recovered from the mortifying experience, because I love-love-loved Bali. Continue reading Balinese “Gado Gado” inspired vegetables in peanut sauce

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The most delicious journey through Jeju Island, Korea

If you are planning a trip to Korea for the first time, you should definitely go to Seoul. A city that truly never sleeps. You could shop, eat, drink and party around the clock. You could easily have 4-5 meals a day as well as snacks and street food if you can handle it. But if you have been to Seoul and looking for some peace and quiet away from the hectic city, Jeju island (Jejudo in Korean) is the place for you. Jejudo is a volcanic island dominated by Hallasan (shield volcano and the highest mountain in South Korea). There is no place like Jeju island in Korea in terms of natural beauty, clean air and more importantly the food. This was my second time visiting and I fell in love with it all over again. Continue reading The most delicious journey through Jeju Island, Korea

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Indian cooking class in Delhi – Spice, Family and Love

I think it’s pretty obvious that I love spices ;-). I truly believe that they bring magic to the dish with smell, color, depth and complexity of flavor. Although I was a fan of them as long as I remember, my passion really began with the Moroccan cooking class I took in Marrakesh. So when I decided to spend over a week in India, I could not plan my trip without signing me and my husband up for a cooking lesson. I always thought I knew Indian food. Living in London for 4 years, having Indian food almost every week here in Hong Kong and watching lots and lots of cooking shows. But now I see that whatever I knew before was nothing compared to what I had seen, smelled, tasted, and learned during my trip and an amazing class with Jyoti at Gourmet Desire. I am planing on recreating a dish or two based on recipes I learned from her soon. This post is a kind of preview, so stay tuned 🙂 Continue reading Indian cooking class in Delhi – Spice, Family and Love