Travel Guides

Whenever I travel to a new city, I try to find out if there is a skybar in the vicinity of the hotel I am staying at. If there is one, I count myself lucky and quickly grab my companion so that we could have a round of drinks at the bar. If there isn’t any, better luck next time then. Here are some of the most enchanting skybars in the world for you discerning bar hoppers. Take note the next time you travel to the desired city of your choice!

1. The Dome, Bangkok
Located at the top of The State Tower, the Dome is indeed a sight for sore eyes, and dry throats. Besides offering a scenic view of the vibrant city below and the enchanting Chao Phraya river, the skybar also lets customers choose from a tempting array of the best whiskies known to man. The bar itself changes color ever so often, creating a fairytale like ambiance as you sip on champagne and feast on fresh, juicy oysters.

Looking for a little adventure when during your holidays? Getting jaded over the boring hotels you’ll be confined to when you go on your annual vacation? Well, here’s a suggestion for you: Why not take a tour or stay at one of these 5 haunted hotels featured below? One word of caution: it’s not for the faint of heart and you should also be prepared to bring your own ouija board ghost hunting equipment!

1. Castle Leslie, Ireland
This ornate castle was build more than 3 centuries ago and belonged to the Leslie family ever since. Perfect for celebrities and those who are rich and famous, this 5-star retreat offers ideal solitude with the absence of the Internet, telephones and televisions. And if you have a craving for the supernatural, do ask to stay in the Norman Room, so called based on the name of the ghostly apparition that manifests from time to time. Don’t worry, he’s harmless, only known to haunt that particular room and appear to guests as a smiling entity.

Recently, the Chinese people celebrated 60 years of communism and the formation of the Peoples Republic of China. In that time the country has transformed from a nation of farmers into one of the most powerful economies in the world. What’s China like today, and more importantly, what’s it like for tourists and what is the future of tourism in China?

China is actually a vibrant and rapidly developing economy. It’s now one of the strongest in the world, and every Chinese person is proud of their heritage.

Almost everywhere you go in China you can see people who are proud and respectful. As the world looks on, many are uncertain as to what China is about and there is still a great deal of mystery about what will become of this country, as it has rapidly transformed into a major global superpower.

Trinidad and Tobago are renowned for their vast variety of exotic foods. Travelers should go out of their way to make sure that they give these 3 classics a go. You’ll be glad that you did.

Doubles is a sandwich with Eastern Indian descent. It is made with two flat fried flour flat breads, called “Bairai”, filled with curried peas and other vegetables. It is topped with a very spicy chile sauce and if you are feeling adventurous, you can add some chopped jalapeños. Doubles is actually considered a breakfast food and can typically be purchased from street vendors in the morning. It is also a very popular “after bar” food. There’s nothing quite like ea Doubles at 3am after a long night of drinking! Remember to always keep an eye out for the cart that has the longest line. This will be the best and probably safest place to find a Doubles.  

The unique food of New Orleans’ locals is a virtual melting pot of worldwide cultures. The big easy has used recipes from all parts of the world. French, Indian, Southern American, Mexican and even African influences can be found in a lot of New Orleans dishes. When you think about food from New Orleans two terms probably pop up, Creole and Cajun. Although these terms are thrown around loosely, especially with a popular chicken franchise, there is a distinct difference between the two styles of cooking.

 Cajun dishes refer to a very rustic, almost hotpot style of cooking. Flavors are typically put together in stews or other heavy sauces. This type of cooking is heavily influenced by not only French, but African campfire cooking techniques. In one word Cajun = Hearty.

North Africa is home to the world’s largest and hottest desert, the Sahara. Although on the surface the Sahara may seem like a culinary wasteland, however you’d be surprised to find out that the regions around the Sahara have a lot of choices when it comes to food. Lamb, chicken and various vegetables are staple ingredients in Saharan cooking, which borrows technique and recipes from all of its many desert neighbors.  

North African cuisine is very prominent in the areas around the Sahara. You simply can’t replicate these types of flavors anywhere else in the world. The preparation and source of ingredients makes the Sahara are truly unique culinary experience. Although African cuisine is definitely a little different than we might be used to, their influence is very French and European. Although the ingredient may scream exotic African, traditional sauce creation and classic culinary technique all originated with the French Escoffier culinary techniques.

Think you’ve tried everything? Are you the type who laughs in the face of nuclear strength Asian hot peppers? Scoffs at a handful of African deep-fried crickets or will happily grub down on things that normal people wouldn’t even touch? (Well except maybe the French!) Well then you are going to love this list of exotic culinary delicacies from around the world.

 Grilled Iguana meat, El Salvador

Iguanas are typically thought of as the pets of eccentric lizard-lovers or in very dry regions of America as bothersome desert pests… But that’s not all – in some areas of the world, especially El Salvador, iguana meat is a true delicacy revered more than the finest seafood or beef. El Salvador locals also swear by iguana meat as a cure-all for any number of ailments. The most humorous thing about iguana meat…almost everyone that has tasted it will tell you the same thing – it really does taste like chicken!

One of the worst things that can happen on a vacation is food poisoning. The traveler’s sickness, some call it, can ruin a perfectly good vacation and have laid up for days or even weeks in bed. This is especially common if you are traveling to an underdeveloped country. Here are a few easy steps to help you avoid the most common food mistakes that can make you sick.

Try to stay away from raw vegetables if you are in an area that is not industrialized. This includes lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers and especially mushrooms. Cooked vegetables are fine, but make sure that the food has been cooked properly and hasn’t been sitting out for too long.